THE MP for Central Devon has welcomed plans to deliver improvements to cycling across Dartmoor.

The Department of Transport will contribute £4.4-million for a project led by Devon County Council and Dartmoor National Park to open up access to the moor by improving and completing a number of multi-use trails on Dartmoor as well as creating 'cycling hub' sites at Princetown and Moretonhampstead, which will provide dedicated facilities for visitors.

Responding to the announcement, Mel Stride MP said: 'This is a great investment for the area and will help encourage visitors and local residents to explore and make even better use of Dartmoor.'

The aim of the investment is to encourage visitors to explore more of the routes along existing disused railway track beds and canal tow paths, and extend their stay in the area.

Dartmoor National Park currently receives around 2.4 million visitors a year, with 600,000 cycle trips being made annually.

The new scheme is expected to encourage more people to cycle to the moor, with up to 43% increase in cycling between 2015 and 2018, bringing an extra £6 million to the local economy and creating the potential for around 100 new jobs.

Targeted improvements within the scheme include upgrading existing routes on Dartmoor, and developing a route from Exeter to Dartmoor via Haldon Forest Park.

The Granite Way will also be upgraded to fill in any remaining gaps and complete part of a wider Devon Coast to Coast route, which is not only part of the National Cycle Network but also part of the Eurovelo network and Cycle West — a partnership project which has established better cycle links with Normandy and Brittany through the ferry port and rail station at Plymouth.