The last of the traffic filters from the Active Streets trial in Heavitree and Whipton will be removed from Ladysmith Road/Park Road and St Marks Avenue tomorrow (Wednesday 24 July) and Thursday (25 July).
A report to the Exeter HATOC meeting today (Tuesday 23 July) confirmed that work to take out the measures will start tomorrow before the roads are re-opened to through traffic.
This follows the Committee’s decision in June for the traffic filters in this location to be removed once the school summer term ended. Also, in line with the same resolution from June, some planters will remain in place to slow traffic.
The layout will be re-instated without a mini-roundabout and the revised junction will mean that traffic coming from St Marks Avenue and Park Road will need to give way to traffic travelling between Ladysmith Road and Commins Road.
Planters and road markings will narrow the road at the junction to promote traffic calming and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road, compared with the original mini-roundabout. This would also enable further improvements to be made to the infrastructure in future.
Councillor Carol Whitton, Chair of Exeter HATOC and County Councillor for St David’s and Haven Banks, said:
“I am pleased that some of the planters in Ladysmith Road have been retained to help with traffic calming and to make it easier for the many families walking or wheeling their children to Ladysmith school to cross the road safely. I am also pleased that the council will now be talking to all the schools in the area, as well as to local residents and representative groups, about any further measures which might help to calm traffic around the schools and across the area so that all children arrive at school safely.”
Other temporary traffic filters were removed from Hamlin Lane, Vaughan Road and Whipton Lane at the start of this month (July).
The County Council is planning to hold discussions with all schools in the Active Streets trial area, disabled blue badge holders and representatives of people with protected characteristics (including disabled people, older people and carers) for more detailed feedback on the impact of the scheme. Focus groups will also be organised with community leaders and residents in the autumn.