Heavitree and Whipton Phase 2 Consultation

In September and October 2021, we consulted on a range of measures to address the issues raised during the Phase 1 Consultation, particularly the impact of traffic on the local area and the lack of priority for pedestrians and cyclists. These included:

• Packages of traffic filters to reduce or remove through traffic;
• Measures to reduce traffic speeds and improve pedestrian crossing facilities on Sweetbrier Lane and Whipton Lane; and
• Additional electric vehicle charging facilities.

The questions asked are detailed in a paper copy of the consultation survey.

Options for reducing traffic

Four options were presented for consultation, involving point closures at different locations within Heavitree and Whipton:

• Options 1 and 2 sought to close north-south routes to through traffic.
• Option 3 sought to close east-west routes to through traffic.
• Option 4 sought to close all routes to through traffic.

These proposals involved a mixture of physical modal filters, which create a physical barrier to all vehicular traffic, but allow pedestrians and cyclists to pass, and bus gates, which allow the passage of buses, pedestrians and cyclists, but prohibit the passage of other vehicular traffic.

For more details of each of the options, please use the buttons below.

As the Chard Road traffic filter had been previously implemented under a separate Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, a decision on its retention could be made independently of a decision on a potential area-wide scheme.

• Option 1

  Option 1 for reducing traffic proposed closing some north-south routes to through traffic. It is illustrated in the image and table below, and described in a video.

  

  Modal Filter	Type of Modal Filter	Location
  1	Existing (Permanent) Physical Filter	Homefield Rd, between junctions with Bonnington Grove and Bicton Place
  2	Existing (Temporary) Physical Filter	Chard Rd, between junctions with Nicholas Rd and Whipton Lane
  3	Proposed Bus Gate	Ladysmith Rd, immediately south of Park Road roundabout
  4	Proposed Physical Filter	St Marks Ave, immediately east of Park Road roundabout
  5	Proposed Bus Gate	Hamlin Lane, between junctions with Chard Rd and Hanover Rd
  6	Proposed Physical Filter	Whipton Lane, between junctions with Chard Rd and Sweetbrier Lane
  7	Proposed Bus Gate	Thornpark Rise, immediately east of Vaughan Rd roundabout

• Option 2

  Option 2 for reducing traffic also proposed closing some north-south routes to through traffic. It is illustrated in the image and table below, and described in a video.

  

  Modal Filter	Type of Modal Filter	Location
  1	Existing (Permanent) Physical Filter	Homefield Rd, between junctions with Bonnington Grove and Bicton Place
  2	Existing (Temporary) Physical Filter	Chard Rd, between junctions with Nicholas Rd and Whipton Lane
  3	Proposed Bus Gate	Ladysmith Rd, immediately south of Park Road roundabout
  4	Proposed Physical Filter	St Marks Ave, immediately east of Park Road roundabout
  5	Proposed Physical Filter	Hamlin Lane, between junctions with Wykes Rd and Hamlin Gardens
  6	Proposed Physical Filter	Whipton Lane, between junctions with Chard Rd and Lonsdale Rd
  7	Proposed Bus Gate	Whipton Lane, between junctions with Georges Close and Whiteway Drive

• Option 3

  Option 3 for reducing traffic proposed closing some east-west routes to through traffic. It is illustrated in the image and table below, and described in a video.

  

  Modal Filter	Type of Modal Filter	Location
  1	Existing (Permanent) Physical Filter	Homefield Rd, between junctions with Bonnington Grove and Bicton Place
  2	Existing (Temporary) Physical Filter	Chard Rd, between junctions with Nicholas Rd and Whipton Lane
  3	Proposed Bus Gate	Hanover Rd, between junctions with Saxon Rd and Hamlin Lane
  4	Proposed Bus Gate	Hamlin Lane, between junctions with Hanover Rd and Roseland Crescent
  5	Proposed Bus Gate	Sweetbrier Lane, between junctions with Madison Ave and Whiteway Drive
  6	Proposed Bus Gate	Thornpark Rise, immediately east of Vaughan Rd roundabout

• Option 4

  Option 4 for reducing traffic proposed closing all routes to through traffic. It is illustrated in the image and table below, and described in a video.

  

  Modal Filter	Type of Modal Filter	Location
  1	Existing (Permanent) Physical Filter	Homefield Rd, between junctions with Bonnington Grove and Bicton Place
  2	Existing (Temporary) Physical Filter	Chard Rd, between junctions with Nicholas Rd and Whipton Lane
  3	Proposed Bus Gate	Ladysmith Rd, immediately south of Park Rd roundabout
  4	Proposed Physical Filter	St Marks Ave, immediately east of Park Rd roundabout
  5	Proposed Bus Gate	Hamlin Lane, between junctions with Chard Rd and Hanover Rd
  6	Proposed Physical Filter	Whipton Lane, between junctions with Chard Rd and Sweetbrier Lane
  7	Proposed Bus Gate	Whipton Lane, between junctions with Georges Close and Whiteway Drive
  8	Proposed Physical Filter	Sweetbrier Lane, between junctions with Whipton Lane and Vaughan Rd
  9	Proposed Physical Filter	Vaughan Rd, between junctions with Vaughan Rise and Sweetbrier Lane
  10	Proposed Bus Gate	Thornpark Rise, immediately east of Vaughan Rd roundabout

  In response to queries regarding vehicular access under the option 4 proposals, we produced the following map, demonstrating the roads which areas of Heavitree and Whipton could be accessed from:

  

Traffic-calming proposals for Whipton Lane/Sweetbrier Lane

Three schemes were consulted upon within the Whipton Lane/Sweetbrier Lane area, each aiming to reduce traffic speeds and/or improve pedestrian crossing facilities.

• Sweetbrier Lane Chicanes (between Hamlin Lane and Whipton Lane)

  On Sweetbrier Lane, it was proposed that the existing chicanes be widened, along with the removal of the road centre line to make the road seem narrower and thus reduce traffic speeds.

  

• Sweetbrier Lane/Whipton Lane Roundabout

  At the Sweetbrier Lane/Whipton Lane roundabout, it was proposed that traffic humps incorporating raised crossings be installed on the eastern and western arms.

  

• Whipton Lane/Georges Close Junction

  At the Whipton Lane/Georges Close junction, it was proposed that a priority crossing be installed across Georges Close, along with a traffic hump and raised crossing across Whipton Lane.

  

Additional electric vehicle charging facilities

Respondents were invited to indicate preferred locations for additional electric vehicle charging facilities.

Consultation outcomes

Considering online, email, letter and telephone responses, nearly 1,400 people participated in the consultation, of which over 70% lived in Heavitree or Whipton. Collectively, respondents provided approximately:

• 6,500 poll question answers
• 3,800 free text comments
• 600 geotagged comments

The proposals for traffic-calming for Sweetbrier Lane (between Hamlin Lane and Whipton Lane) were largely well-received, as were the improved crossing facilities for the Whipton Lane Roundabout and the George’s Close crossing. Respondents suggested that they could reduce traffic speeds and improve road safety

A small majority of everyone that responded supported the introduction of traffic filters to reduce traffic. Of the options offered, option 4 was the most supported. Whilst a significant majority of respondents disagreed with options 1, 2 and 3 for reducing traffic within Heavitree and Whipton, opinion regarding Option 4 was more evenly split.

Consultation update leaflet

For more information on the consultation outcomes, please see the Consultation update leaflet.