We’re asking local people for their views on our proposals to reduce traffic speeds, increase parking and improve walking facilities in Alphington.
Our online consultation starts on Wednesday July 5 for three weeks and we’re giving local people a chance to give their opinions on a number of options including pavement widening, measures to reduce traffic speeds, changes to existing parking and increased parking provision for local people.
It follows our consultation last year where we asked for views on different options for three areas of Alphington.
Our new consultation aims to build on that with a range of proposals to improve facilities for active travel in the Church Road/Chudleigh Road corridor, between the Alphin Brook roundabout and the double mini roundabout.
It’s all part of a series of projects to improve local highways infrastructure as the new South West Exeter development is delivered.
The development is expected to deliver 2,500 new homes and employment land, and £55.1 million of funding has been awarded to us by the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to enable the improvements.
We;re asking local people to consider each of the proposals and indicate if they ‘strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree’ with each.
The proposals are:
Proposal 1: Pavement widening on both sides of Church Road to improve facilities for pedestrians. This is expected to help reduce vehicle speeds through Alphington.
Proposal 2: Increased parking provision which can reduce vehicle speeds and amending existing parking.
- a) Extra parking on the western side of Church Road by amending existing double yellow lines.
- b) Introducing parking restrictions on the four spaces by the church.
- c) Formalising parking in the former bus layby on Chudleigh Road. Vehicles currently park here but this involves vehicles parking partly on the pavement and requires vehicles to reverse onto the road. The proposal is to provide parallel spaces and amend the double yellow lines to provide spaces on the other side of the road, which should stop vehicles parking partly on the pavement.
- d) Introducing parking on the western side of Chudleigh Road. Vehicles can currently park on some parts with double yellow lines restricting parking on other sections. It is proposed to remove the double yellow lines to the north of Cludens Close, to provide additional parking.
Proposal 3: Creation of two ‘build outs’ on Chudleigh Road to require vehicles to slow down and give way.
Proposal 4: Increase the size of the existing pedestrian island at the double mini roundabout to reduce the distance pedestrians would have to cross.
Proposal 5: Increased height of roundabout markings on the double mini roundabout. Raising the height of the markings may help to reduce the speed of vehicles by encouraging them to drive around the markings rather than over.
Proposal 6: Amendments to signage so that vehicles are directed through Marsh Barton towards Dawlish, with the aim of reducing the number of vehicles travelling through Alphington.
Proposal 7: Removal of the centre line where possible. The aim of this is to slow vehicles speeds.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said:
“We are delivering vital highways infrastructure to make it easier to walk and cycle to the new homes, jobs and school once they have been delivered.
“Each of the proposals presented in the consultation aims to slow vehicle speeds in Alphington and make active travel a more attractive option.
“However, these plans are not set in stone, and we want to know what local people think and the results will give us a better idea of the level of support for each proposal and will inform our next steps.”
Councillor Yvonne Atkinson, County Councillor for Alphington and Cowick, said:
“Investment in Alphington’s roads and pavements to make them safer for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair and scooter users was promised as part of the SW Exeter new housing developments and funds obtained for this. We now need to deliver the final parts of the scheme to slow traffic down on Chudleigh Road, and Church Road, This is the second consultation that has taken place at each design stage.
“I would encourage people to take part in the consultation and have their say particularly pedestrians and disabled people. It’s time for our streets to be accessible and safe for all pedestrians, cyclists and car users who are also safer when driven at lower speed.”
Please let us know your comments by Wednesday July 26 2023 via our Have Your Say webpage.
Alternatively, to request a paper copy email us at swexeter@devon.gov.uk or write to us at SW Exeter, Room 120, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD.