Exeter transport plans go on show
EXETER residents are to have a say on options for improving the city’s transport system — including the creation of two new park and ride sites.
A series of exhibitions starting today will set out a range of proposals for travel around the city.
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These will include details of Project Exe-press, which aims to run state-of-the-art buses on two new cross-city routes, as well as improving the existing bus network.
It is hoped these would attract business commuters and would link to St Davids railway station and the university, as well as providing a shuttle bus from the Exeter Science Park and Skypark.
Also on the table are proposals for two new park and ride sites at Alphington and Cowley Bridge Road.
It comes after Devon County Council, which is organising the exhibitions, had its planning application for a park and ride at the Ide interchange, part of the Alphinbrook conservation area, refused.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The proposals for the park and ride sites do not relate to specific sites, but rather to broad locations where park and rides would be required. The strategy is to have a park and ride site serving the Alphington Road corridor for people coming from the west of the city.”
Peter Wadham, a city councillor for Alphington and portfolio holder for sustainable development and transport in Exeter, said: “I didn’t agree with putting a park and ride on these fields, we would instead like to use it as a green space.
“A park and ride has to go further out, rather than just inside Exeter here.”
The exhibitions will be held today and tomorrow in Exeter’s Guildhall between 11am and 6.30pm; and then in Bedford Square on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, from 10am to 5.30pm.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “The local economy will benefit from the new employment and housing developments planned for the outskirts of Exeter, but we need a transport system and infrastructure that will be able to cope with the additional demand.
“We have approved the layouts of the second phase for the final highway infrastructure scheme for the east of Exeter developments — we are now just waiting on the Government to confirm its support.
“Devon County Council is committed to reducing congestion, lowering carbon emissions and providing sustainable transport options, and this consultation sets out a number of proposals to achieve this. All new development in Exeter will be designed to be cycle-friendly and it’s vital that the Local Transport Plan provides practical alternatives which include cycling, walking and high-quality public transport.”
Questionnaires will be available at the exhibitions or can be found online at www.devon.gov.uk/futuretransportexeter.
5 Comments
by Anon, Exeter
Monday, March 15 2010, 8:42PM
“Surely there is an ideal field on the A377 past the Three Horse Shoes pub on the right. And it's not on the flood plain!”
by Leona, Exeter
Monday, March 15 2010, 4:51PM
“Building or widening more roads is not the answer, more investment in reliable and affordable public transport is, as the report says, we can't build our way out of this mess, there is no where else to build on, I will be eger to see if this new bus service gets developed.”
by Stuart, Exeter
Monday, March 15 2010, 4:05PM
“Pete, how do you propose dual lane roads are placed into a city?
Without knocking down rows and rows of houses or removing pavements so there can be no footfall, where do you expect these lanes to go????”
by Pete, Exeter
Monday, March 15 2010, 12:18PM
“For goodness sake just build some more dual lane roads instead of the rubbish tiny single lane roads which try and carry tens of thousands of cars a day.”
by nathan, exeter
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:50AM
“excuse my naiveness, but where abouts in Cowley Bridge road would this site be built?
Maybe out on some of the farms on the A377 but surely not the Cowley Bridge Road... it'll make it more of a nightmare on that road. It's also not all that far away from Town.”