Newton Abbot traffic plans spark fresh protest

Councils will be urged to think again

Newton Abbot Town Council is to make ‘very strong representations’ formally calling for plans to restrict parking and traffic access in Queen Street to be abandoned.

The proposals by Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council would remove much of the on-street parking in the street and prevent most vehicles from travelling further than the junction with Albany Street.

Pavements would be widened and other traffic restrictions imposed in nearby streets.

Although the town council has already objected to most of the Traffic Regulation Orders that would introduce the changes, last Wednesday  it staged an extraordinary meeting attended by 15 councillors.

Two motions were put by Cllrs Mike Ryan and Alex Hall, one asking for the town council to debate the proposals because of the concerns of businesses in the area, the loss of car parking and in particular disabled parking, and the other askign that the town council considers "making very strong representations" to the county and district councils for the scheme to be abandoned.

Opening the debate, Cllr Mike Ryan said: "As a council we have been misled from the start. We were never asked beforehand what we would want to do in Queen Street."

He later added: "It’s our town not yours."

Another opponent, Cllr Janet Bradford, questioned the abilities of Teignbridge District Council saying: "Look at Market Walk, destroyed by mismanagement and interference."

Taking a different position, Cllr Colin Parker claimed the scheme was in line with long standing aspirations to improve the town.

He said the Queen Street proposals were "the most widely consulted" Devon County Council had ever undertaken and told the meeting: "Public realm improvements would enhance this area, it will be a real asset for the town."

He added: "It would encourage visitors to linger longer."

Cllr Phil Bullivant took a similar stance saying the changes were in the "medium to long term interests."

"This process is fundamentally about how we drive footfall into the town," he said.

Having heard the arguments for and against, members voted nine to four, with two abstentions, in support of the motions meaning the town council will now officially call for the Queen Street plans to be abandoned.

After the meeting Mayor Cllr David Corney-Walker, who chaired the debate, said: "Members have had their say and the clerk will draft a letter expressing their wishes.

"It is up to Teignbridge and Devon whether or not to act on what has been said."