Exeter unites against more unpopular road changes

After the removal of a controversial low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme, businesses and residents in Heavitree are once opposing proposed road changes. Devon Council Council (DCC) launched a consultation to change waiting and loading restrictions along bus lanes in areas of Exeter as part of its Exeter Bus Service Improvement Plans.

Changes are proposed on Fore Street in Heavitree, Heavitree Road, Pinhoe Road and Honiton Road. The proposal for Fore Street - home to a number of local businesses - is for the bus lane to be in operation from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, with no waiting or loading during those hours.

The plans also include parking in North Street being shortened to allow the traffic lanes to be widened on the exit onto Fore Street to 'improve capacity and bus movements out of the junction'. Currently, the rules in Fore Street only restrict loading Monday to Friday between 8am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, prompting local businesses to fear for their survival if the proposals are brought in.

Funding has been allocated by central government to improve bus services in the county. DCC hopes the proposals will reduce bus journey times by up to four minutes in some parts of the city, and it says it will enable buses to pass queuing traffic during the daytime when they are currently experiencing delays.

The consultation has now closed but an online petition against the proposalsremains active. Data has been collated by Heavitree Traders and volunteers who recently witnessed and recorded buses in Heavitree on two different workdays for 12 hours each time between 7am and 7pm.

Observations included unauthorised vehicles blocking the bus lane during operating hours, unauthorised vehicles travelling in the bus lane during operating hours, vehicles turning right into Tesco delaying vehicles, and delays caused by four pedestrian crossings within close proximity of each other.