At the start of this year, I was delighted to reveal that Exmouth will receive £15.7 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

This multi-million-pound investment will deliver the Dinan Way road extension to cut congestion.

Exmouth residents will be well-versed this missing road link is needed.

Dinan Way currently forms a partial ring road around the town. It lacks a final connection to the A376 main road to Exeter.

Traffic from Dinan Way must use unsuitable residential roads to access the A376 and M5. Goods vehicles accessing the Liverton Business Park, surrounding employment and retail area, and the road to Budleigh Salterton, are signed to travel through central Exmouth.

The government funding boost will also regenerate the area around Exmouth train station.

Local residents have been in touch with me asking what the latest is now that funding is secured. Devon County Council are continuing to work on land acquisition for the Dinan Way scheme, with detailed design already underway by their engineers.

Work has also been continuing on developing the Exmouth train station regeneration scheme. Recently, I discussed the development plans with Devon County Council officers at Exmouth Leisure Centre. I’ve been told there will be a public consultation on the detailed proposals once these are drawn up.

I'll continue to work tirelessly for all parts of East Devon to get things done. Since I was elected in 2019, I have successfully secured a new school to replace Tipton St John Primary, £15.7m from the Levelling Up Fund, a new police station for Exmouth and the planned reopening of Honiton’s police enquiry desk, and a confirmed banking hub for Sidmouth.

Finally, congratulations to David Reed on his selection as the Conservative candidate for the new Exmouth & Exeter East constituency. David is a former Royal Marine with strong family links to our area. I am looking forward to working with him to help build on the Dinan Way extension, regeneration around Exmouth’s train station, and a brand new state-of-the-art police station for the town.