We’re asking for your views on our proposals to make it easier for travellers at Barnstaple Railway Station to change between buses and trains.
From Monday 22 May until Wednesday 26 June, we are inviting the public to view the plans and provide feedback on our Have Your Say website.
Our proposals aim to improve bus-rail integration at the busy station, which is used by over 500,000 passengers per year.
They also aim to provide an improved gateway to Barnstaple, with a simplified road layout making it easier for people to access the station and bus stop.
The changes include an upgraded bus stop directly outside the main entrance, which would be served by all buses and would incorporate shelters and real-time information screens.
It is also proposed to install a bus access on Sticklepath Terrace, to enable buses to use this road when travelling towards Barnstaple town centre, avoiding queues of traffic on Station Road.
The plans are being developed in partnership with Network Rail, who own the station and other rail infrastructure, and Great Western Railway, who operate trains serving the station.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport said:
“We want to know what you think about our proposals to improve the environment for bus users.
“By improving facilities, we hope to make travelling by bus from Barnstaple Station easier and a more attractive option.
“Encouraging more people to use public transport is a key part of our goal to reduce carbon emissions and will help us as a county to achieve our net zero targets.”
Councillor Caroline Leaver, the local county councillor for Barnstaple South said:
“These proposals are all about making it easier for people to use trains, buses and bikes to move around, and to change from one to the other simply. Moving the bus stop to immediately outside the bus station entrance will improve things a lot. At the moment people have to cross four lanes of traffic or walk down towards Tesco.
“There will be better bike racks too, and space around the station will look better and be easier to use. The proposed improvements will modernise facilities for people in Barnstaple and North Devon who want to get out of their cars and use public transport and bikes instead. We hope that people take part in the consultation. Let us know what you think. Will the proposals work for you?”
During the engagement period, we will be holding the following events, which will give members of the public opportunities to find out more:
- Webinar via Microsoft Teams at 18:00-19:00 on Monday 3 June
- In-person event at Barnstaple Railway Station, Station Road, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 2AU at 14:30 – 17:30 on Thursday 13 June
To register for the online event please email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk.
You can give your views by answering a short survey on DCC’s Have Your Say webpage.
The scheme is proposed to be delivered using government funding awarded to Devon County Council following publication of its Bus Services Improvement Plan, which sets out plans to improve bus services and infrastructure across the county.
It would complement the planned introduction of electric buses in North Devon and Torridge, using funding secured by the Council and Stagecoach South West from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.