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Agenda item

Minutes:

The Committee considered the following two reports relating to the final stage of the development (Phase 3A) of this strategic active travel corridor:-

 

(a) Exeter Road and Jetty Marsh Road Toucan Crossings - Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/17), regarding a proposal for two new toucan crossings and associated shared use provision north of Wain Lane and south of Westgolds roundabout; and

 

(b) Exeter Road and Jetty Marsh Road Pedestrian and Cyclist Improvements  - Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/17), regarding works (including flat top road humps) and the removal of white lining to convert segregated footways to shared use.

 

 

The Government‘s COVID-19 Emergency Active Travel Fund supported walking and cycling and provided a unique opportunity to accelerate delivery and address the corridor’s missing gaps, tackling barriers to active travel along heavily trafficked roads.  This corridor linked residential areas with the train station, schools, recreational trails and employment locations and would help to encourage a reduction in short distance car trips.

 

Proposals in both reports were subject to funding approval within the Fund’s criteria.

 

The local County Councillor supported the recommendations contained in both Reports and commented that:-

-Newton Abbot was a growing town with significantly more house building in progress.

-Completing the active travel corridor was really important to help ease Newton Abbot’s traffic congestion and road capacity was not planned to be increased through the town. A shift by the public was therefore required towards walking and cycling, as seen in Exeter over recent months,  encouraging the increase in cyclists during and after the Covid 19 pandemic.

-In monitoring the locations on various occasions (eg school times) and meeting with Officers on site, whilst there was some desire for the crossing to be where the current  Exeter Road island and bus stop was the report recommendations now proposed the best location given physical restraints.  It was hoped that pedestrians would become used to crossing at the new safer location instead of waiting some time to cross at the current location.  

-Proposed improvements at Jetty Marsh linking onto the Bovey Tracey-Newton Abbot cycle route would address current width issues e.g. for pushchairs and cyclists. 

-Although cyclists had the right to use both the road and cycle path, the off road facility was particularly aimed at encouraging those who were less confident to walk and cycle (including families and children) without the fear of danger from the road.

-specifically in relation to the proposed pedestrian/cyclist improvements,

she had been persuaded by Officer advice that to change the segregated facility to shared use was necessary due to constraints and was safe in this location.    

 

Additionally, Councillor Hocking (DALC observer) had submitted a written comment advising that he could not support the recommendations as he felt the proposed crossings were in the wrong place and the public would not use them.

 

Other Member comments included:-

-That any observations of how the Ashburton Road and Balls Corner schemes were working should be taken into account in this Phase.

-Consideration should be given to cyclist priority over vehicles when crossing side roads.

-Queries regarding segregated/shared use facilities.

 

In response to Members’ further questions regarding the crossing locations, Officers further advised that they had reviewed the Exeter Road toucan location, including any blocking back and that the existing bus layby could not be relocated due to width.  Further south the approach to the roundabout was too close for a toucan crossing.  The proposals were the best compromise taking into account all the constraints.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor (J) Hook and SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst and

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i) that the proposed toucan crossings and improvements shown on the plans provided in Appendices B and C to Report (PTE/20/17) be approved for construction at an estimated cost of £215,000; and

 

(ii)) the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment be given

delegated powers, in consultation with the Chair of HATOC and the local

County Councillor, to make minor amendments to the scheme details; and

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Brook and SECONDED by Councillor Gribble and

 

RESOLVED:

 

(iii) that the proposed improvements shown in Appendix D of Report (PTE/20/18) and the conversion of the segregated cycle path between Exeter Road and Jetty Marsh Road to provide shared use, are approved for construction at an estimated cost of £55,000;

 

(iv) that the proposed flat top road humps are advertised and, if no objections

received, be constructed; and

 

(v) that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment be given

delegated powers, in consultation with the Chair of HATOC and the local

County Councillor, to make minor amendments to the scheme details.

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