Exeter Langaton Lane Experiment
Devon County Council is currently advertising an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) on Langaton Lane. We would like to bring to your attention the live consultation and request that you distribute these details amongst your networks so that all opinions can be received.
What is being proposed?
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order is an established method of implementing a trial scheme, whereby the exact details of the traffic regulation order cannot be fully confirmed prior commencement, therefore an on the ground trial of the scheme is implemented alongside the consultation. An ETRO can run for a maximum of 18 months but has a defined review point of 6 months from the date of commencement, whereby the restrictions can be amended/altered in line with responses received.
The ETRO will prohibit motor vehicles from travelling along Langaton Lane, Exeter from a point 154 metres east of its junction with Pinn Valley Road for a distance of 10 metres.
Why is this being proposed?
Langaton Lane is a relatively narrow lane, limiting two way traffic in places with no footways east of the motorway bridge. The 1st Pinhoe Scout Group, Pinhoe Target Shooting club, a meeting place for the Plymouth Brethren, WPD station, two residential properties and a storage facility for fairground equipment are situated on the lane. The lane is surrounded by planned residential and employment development in the East of Exeter Growth Point.
In its current form, Langaton Lane is unsuitable for a significant amount of additional traffic. The lack of facilities for people walking or cycling, or people with mobility assisted vehicles is also a concern, and a future situation with higher pedestrian and vehicular traffic levels without improved pedestrian facilities is likely to lead to a worsening of road safety.
Creating a green lane on Langaton Lane (allowing walking and cycling but no through traffic) is identified in the Exeter Transport Strategy, following a recommendation to include green lanes as agreed at the Scrutiny Committee meeting which was held in June 2020. This would provide an attractive active travel link for Pinhoe residents to access employment at the Science Park, Cranbrook and also the future planned Clyst Valley Trail.
During recent months (June 2021 – March 2022) Langaton Lane has been closed under a TTRO for works to services. The temporary closure has been well received locally and requests have been made by members of the public to move to a permanent closure of the lane. In order to identify the support for this scheme, and to test out the access, an ETRO would allow these to be trialled before introducing a permanent change.
When is this being proposed?
The scheme will be advertised from Thursday 10 March 2022 and consultation responses will be accepted from this date.
The ETRO will come into force from 17 March 2022 and will run for a maximum of 18 months.
What will it look like?
The closure point will be situated south of the railway bridge, north Pinn Brook/the scout club.
Appropriate highway signs will be introduced on either side of the lane. Concrete blocks with reflective strips will be placed onto the road at its closure point, allowing pedestrian, cyclists, equestrians, people with wheelchairs, etc to pass through, but restrict motor traffic.
In addition to the closure, the existing streetlighting will be maintained/upgraded, ensuring good visibility at night.
How do I respond?
The consultation for this proposal ran from the 10 March until 17 September 2022.
Comments are currently being reviewed, but the ETRO will continue in force until a final decision is made.
Documents – Ref 5954
The plan for the area considered, as well as the accompanying consultation documents are: