Countryfile unveils North Devon Surfbus
31/05/2011
John Craven and Laura Holt of North Devon+ for Countryfile
North Devon+ will be soon be the first UK resort to boast its own bus service specially designed for surfers and cyclists. Countryfile's John Craven unveiled the designs to a group of eager surfers during filming at Croyde beach this week.
The Surfbus will run from May to October between Barnstaple and Croyde, taking in Braunton, Saunton, Georgeham, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe. Specially designed to carry surfboards and bicycles, the surfbus will add much needed support for the North Devon watersports community.
The watersports industry is currently worth £82m a year to the North Devon economy, with surfing accounting for £52m alone.
Travelling with bulky sporting equipment has long been a problem for surfers and cyclists in North Devon. North Devon+ will be managing the 2 year pilot scheme which will cost around £176000. Over half of the funding for the pilot scheme comes from EU funding in the form of a grant from the Rural Development for England Programme delivered by Leader 4. The remainder is being supplied by North Devon Council and local action groups including the AONB and the Ilfracombe Neighbourhood Management Programme.
Following extensive community consultation, and a lot of hard work on the part of North Devon+ and John Burch of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, The Surfbus is scheduled to launch at the end of April 2011.
The North Devon surfbus edition of Countryfile will air on Sunday the 13th March 2011.
