A fitting tribute to Dawlish’s blossoming history

The name of the new bridge over Shutterton Brook in Dawlish has been unveiled marking a significant milestone in providing the homes and infrastructure needed to support the growing local community. 

Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council, supported by Homes England, have worked in partnership to deliver the bridge and a new link road, which connects the A379 by Sainsbury’s to more than 400 new homes at Secmaton Farm and Swan Park (Areas 3 and 4), while also providing access to approximately 400 new homes at Gatehouse Farm (Area 2).  

The £6.2 million project has been funded by £4.9 million in government grants and £1.3 million in developer contributions. A final section of road within Area 2 is being delivered by housing developers, completing the link road and connecting the A379 to Elm Grove Road. A shared path for walkers and cyclists will also be delivered by developers. 

Starting in summer 2025, all construction traffic will use the new link road to access these housing development sites, actively reducing traffic on Elm Grove Road.  

At the bridge naming ceremony, local MP Martin Wrigley welcomed guests, emphasising how this new bridge and link road are key steps in achieving the goal of linking 860 new homes directly to the A379 Exeter Road. Dawlish Town Mayor, Cllr Linda Goodman-Bradbury, then revealed the bridge’s name, which was chosen by Dawlish Town Council. 

The new bridge has been named ‘Sweet Violets Bridge’ to commemorate Dawlish’s historic violet industry. The name reflects the important role these flowers played in the local economy in the early 20th century, when the growing and transportation of sweet violets became a thriving business in the area, providing employment and independence to ex-servicemen after the First World War. 

Thanks to the ‘violet train’ that ran daily from Cornwall to London, freshly picked violets were transported from Dawlish station to Covent Garden, making them a preferred option over imported French flowers. The bridge’s name serves as a lasting tribute to this once-vibrant industry. 

For more information on the link road and bridge, please visit Devon County Council’s website.