Calls to reconsider Newton Abbot car ban

Queen Street proposals split opinion

Councillors are being urged to go back to the drawing board over controversial plans to ban cars from a busy street in the centre of Newton Abbot.

Devon County Council says work could start next summer on a multi-million-pound ‘enhancement’ of Queen Street, which is home to some of the town’s busiest bars, restaurants and shops.

It says the street will be safer, more attractive, healthier and greener, but some local businesses believe it will put shoppers off coming to the town.

Now councillors from the South Devon Alliance want a rethink. The group has produced posters saying the proposals will be a ‘death knell’ for the town centre, and that the community is being ignored.

The council plans show widened footways, improved crossings, more trees and seats. Only buses, taxis, pedestrians, cycles, blue badge holders and vehicles loading and unloading will be allowed into the closed section.

Future High Streets money from the government will pay for the scheme, along with half a million pounds in ‘active travel’ funding.

Teignbridge Council Leader Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem, Dawlish North), who is also a county councillor, said: “People’s shopping habits have changed, and many don’t go into towns just to shop. Covid has further changed habits as well.

“We need to make sure Queen Street is an attractive and viable place for people to spend time, as well as using the shops and other services. Whether they browse, walk or cycle, meet and eat, or enjoy a cultural experience, Newton Abbot will be truly back on the map.”

And Cllr Phil Bullivant, a Teignbridge Council member and also Conservative county councillor for Newton Abbot North, added: “The overwhelming view among residents, planners, most councillors and those with a keen interest in the successful future of Newton Abbot is that improving the town centre environment to attract more people is vital for the future prosperity of the town, including its retail businesses.”

But some traders fear the changes will cost them dearly.

Marcel Massey, who owns a town centre printing shop, told the BBC: “The big concern is that people are going to see the signs at the end of the road and not come into Newton Abbot.

“So many of the shops in town rely on traffic.”

And Mary Austin of Austins’ department store added: “We believe that reducing the car parking is going to have a serious knock-on effect with significant consequences for the whole of Newton Abbot.”

Teignbridge Council will discuss Queen Street at a meeting next week, with South Devon Alliance group leader Richard Daws, who represents Ambrook, putting forward a motion calling for it to reconsider.

The motion, which has the backing of the rest of the South Devon Alliance group, says the project should be ‘parked’.

It reads: “Given the huge concerns expressed by Queen Street retailers over the Future High Street Fund plans, it is proposed that Teignbridge Council parks the project plan for the street and, as a matter of urgency, enters full and meaningful ‘face-to-face’ consultation involving meeting, listening to and acting on the concerns of all retailers and residents directly affected by the proposed plans.

“The aim being to create a vision for the future of Queen Street and the Town Centre that carries the support of the majority of retailers and the community.”