Recommendations will go before Devon County Council’s Cabinet next week (Wednesday 8 May) asking councillors not to proceed with proposed active travel improvements near Exmouth railway station.
The “Exmouth Gateway” proposals had been planned to be part of the Destination Exmouth Levelling Up Fund improvements for the town, which also includes an extension to Dinan Way.
The gateway scheme, which aimed to reduce the amount of traffic in the town centre and improve the experience for people arriving in Exmouth, included plans to close the subway near the railway station to enable widening of the shared pedestrian and cycle path in this area and changing the zebra crossing to one with traffic signals.
Among other improvements, it also proposed to introduce a new zebra crossing outside The Strand Inn, a pedestrian crossing on The Royal Avenue, and widening of the footpath to the leisure centre.
However, during two rounds of public consultation, the majority of respondents did not support the closure of the subway.
Without the additional space provided by the infilling and closure of the subway and its ramps, it’s not possible to deliver the other active travel improvements. This has led to the recommendation to remove the Exmouth Gateway proposals from the Destination Exmouth scheme.
Devon County Council successfully submitted a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for £15.765 million for its Destination Exmouth improvements. Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council had agreed to contribute £1.752 million to the scheme.
Devon County Council is working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) to understand the financial implications of not progressing the gateway scheme.
The Dinan Way Extension, which proposes to provide a link to the A376 and move traffic away from residential roads in the area, is not expected to be impacted if the gateway scheme is not undertaken, although it is still to be confirmed with the DfT.