Roads near Newton Abbot schools will be 20 mph

Approval expected this week

A number of 20 mph speed limits will be introduced around Newton Abbot’s schools and college if councillors give their approval this week.

Last year the majority of the town’s residents rejected proposals for 20 mph limits on main and residential roads, but they did support them outside schools.

If Teignbridge’s highways and traffic orders committee (HATOC) backs the project, it will benefit St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Combeshead Academy, Decoy Community Primary School, Wolborough C of E Primary and Highweek Primary, as well as Newton Abbot College.

New permanent 20 mph limits will be introduced in some nearby areas, including Old Exeter Road, Coombeshead Road and Abbotsbury Road, while a number of other roads will get new advisory 20 limits – indicated by flashing lights during school arrival and leaving times.

A consultation on the scheme received 15 responses. Twelve were in support while one person formally objected.

Recommending approval, a Devon County Council report says the proposals will “create more attractive, safe and healthy places with reduced dominance of motor vehicles, with improved accessibility for all, cleaner air and less pollution.”

The cost of the alterations withll come from the budget previously set aside to implementat the 20 mph schemes that residents didn’t want.

That consultation found 79 per cent opposed 20 mph speed limits across Newton Abbot, but 77 percent of respondant wanted the lower limit outside schools.

After the original plan was rejected, the county council introduced a ‘prioritisation system’ for considering 20 mph speed limit requests.

The four ‘most-in-need’ Devon communities were then chosen – selected areas of Tiverton and Winkleigh, and all the roads in Atherington (North Devon) and Ashburton – and the council revealed last week that funding for six more communities has been secured for next year.

The HATOC committee will consider the schools 20 mph plan on Friday, 16 December.