Notes from A377 Action Group held on Tuesday 27 January 2022 10am via zoom
Present: Graeme Barnell (MDDC Councillor Newbrooke Ward, Chair), Jim Enright (Chair NSC PC), Liz Brookes-Hocking (Mayor of Crediton and CTC), Margaret Squires (DCC Councillor Taw and Mid Exe and Sandford PC), Frank Letch (MDDC Councillor and CTC), David Horton (Chair Upton Pyne PC) left 10.45am, Michelle Woodgates (DCC Senior Highway Development Management Officer) left 10.45am, Stuart Jarvis (DCC Highways), Jane Hole (Parish Clerk NSC)
It was agreed to keep this on the agenda.
Action point
Frank had sent documents to Frank Chesterton.
Graeme has written separately to Richard Marsh to express interest in the scope of the Masterplan with regard to how it will affect surrounding parishes and the development of infrastructure such as schools.
Upton Pyne see the stress points not so much on the main road, but in and through the village when traffic cuts through.
Action point
Frank gave an update on Community Speed watch in Crediton: there are currently 3 designated roads on which CSW can operate. Speed watch can also be done in 40mph zone as long as they are safe, which ruled out most 40mph stretches. Most speeding took place between 7.30am and 9am and 4.30 to 6pm. The group were short on members and currently had 3-5 active members who try to get out at least once a week. They see CSW as being more about education than punishment and the more visibility the group has the more the message will hopefully get through. Although reports of speeding on the A377 from Hookway down to Crediton have been received, the group prefers to concentrate on areas where there are lots of pedestrians or where there are junctions. Accidents were now called collisions. Not just speeding was identified, out of 137 speeding vehicles, 2 were uninsured and 7 had no MOT’s. Results are sent to the police and statistics are sent back to CSW monthly.
Three areas were identified in Newton St Cyres
Frank suggested that he and Margaret could raise the issue of going from 60mph to 30mph at the Quickes straight at HATOC with a suggestion of introducing a 40mph limit back 300 meters from the current 30mph. 30mph speed limit start when you enter an urban environment and at that point there is no indication that it is an urban area as there are no visual signals to motorists.
Liz said that if this change was made then most of the road between Crediton and Exeter would be 40mph/30mph. Cars did not overtake as much on the Half Moon straight where it was 40mph but lots of overtaking took place on the Quickes straight where it was 60mph. If everyone knew it was 40mph all the way there would be less confusion.
Margaret was not sure 40mph was suitable for the whole stretch? Beyond Copplestone the road is much quieter. More policing to slow traffic down could be considered with an emphasis on educating rather than altering speed limits.
Michelle advised that any speed limit changes would need to be discussed with the Neighbourhood Highways officer and also the Traffic Policy team
Action points:
Margaret suggested that issues should be flagged up with planning so that when developments come along, S106 money may be available. Safe crossings could also be detailed in NSC Neighbourhood plan.
Liz pointed out that there are many spots along the A377 which do not have safe crossing points and it will be difficult to persuade people to use public transport more if there are not able to safely cross the road near bus stops/stations. There is no safe crossing point at Station Approach in Crediton and both the community at Fordton and the new Tarka development will struggle to access public transport safely. Greater consideration should be given as to how road conditions affect public transport
Frank noted that the recent changes to the Highway code which give priority to pedestrians and then cyclists was a good argument in favour of ensuring safe crossing were available
Graeme suggested that we concentrate on coming up with some safe crossing schemes so that if there is money available, we are able to take advantage of it.
Action point
Liz noted that at the last HATOC there was an open discussion about speed limits in general and this reflects a discussion taking place within DALC about speed in general and more specifically speed of vehicles on single track roads and how this can be tackled. DLAC would welcome HATOC being a more open discussion forum to help DCC understand how local communities feel about issues.
How do you get items on the HATOC and how do we make best use of it?
Jim suggested that the new priorities in the Highway code and what should be done to implement them would make a good subject for discussion at HATOC
Action point
- Apologies
- Notes of the last meeting 23 November 2022
- Crediton to Exeter Cycleway- update
It was agreed to keep this on the agenda.
Action point
- Keep on the agenda (GB/JH)
- A377- Crediton Masterplan and Urban Realm and Traffic Study-update
Frank had sent documents to Frank Chesterton.
Graeme has written separately to Richard Marsh to express interest in the scope of the Masterplan with regard to how it will affect surrounding parishes and the development of infrastructure such as schools.
Upton Pyne see the stress points not so much on the main road, but in and through the village when traffic cuts through.
Action point
- Keep on the agenda (GB/JH)
- A377- Speed limits and speed controls (all)
Frank gave an update on Community Speed watch in Crediton: there are currently 3 designated roads on which CSW can operate. Speed watch can also be done in 40mph zone as long as they are safe, which ruled out most 40mph stretches. Most speeding took place between 7.30am and 9am and 4.30 to 6pm. The group were short on members and currently had 3-5 active members who try to get out at least once a week. They see CSW as being more about education than punishment and the more visibility the group has the more the message will hopefully get through. Although reports of speeding on the A377 from Hookway down to Crediton have been received, the group prefers to concentrate on areas where there are lots of pedestrians or where there are junctions. Accidents were now called collisions. Not just speeding was identified, out of 137 speeding vehicles, 2 were uninsured and 7 had no MOT’s. Results are sent to the police and statistics are sent back to CSW monthly.
Three areas were identified in Newton St Cyres
- From Crediton at Quickes where the speed limit goes from 60mph to 30mph.
- Half Moon straight. The lack of footpath from the layby up to the houses is dangerous for pedestrians and the solution would be to put in a footpath.
- School Hill from the old school site down. Difficult to cross road at Tytheing Close.
Frank suggested that he and Margaret could raise the issue of going from 60mph to 30mph at the Quickes straight at HATOC with a suggestion of introducing a 40mph limit back 300 meters from the current 30mph. 30mph speed limit start when you enter an urban environment and at that point there is no indication that it is an urban area as there are no visual signals to motorists.
Liz said that if this change was made then most of the road between Crediton and Exeter would be 40mph/30mph. Cars did not overtake as much on the Half Moon straight where it was 40mph but lots of overtaking took place on the Quickes straight where it was 60mph. If everyone knew it was 40mph all the way there would be less confusion.
Margaret was not sure 40mph was suitable for the whole stretch? Beyond Copplestone the road is much quieter. More policing to slow traffic down could be considered with an emphasis on educating rather than altering speed limits.
Michelle advised that any speed limit changes would need to be discussed with the Neighbourhood Highways officer and also the Traffic Policy team
Action points:
- Frank and Margaret to raise possibility of a 40mph along the Quickes straight at HATOC (ACTION FL/MS)
- Invite Owen Messanger from the Police to the next meeting to discuss increased policing of speed limits (ACTION GB/JH)
- Invite James Bench from the Traffic Policy Team to next meeting to discuss speed limits along A377 and what the regulations allow (ACTION GB/JH)
- A377- Safe Road crossings (all)
Margaret suggested that issues should be flagged up with planning so that when developments come along, S106 money may be available. Safe crossings could also be detailed in NSC Neighbourhood plan.
Liz pointed out that there are many spots along the A377 which do not have safe crossing points and it will be difficult to persuade people to use public transport more if there are not able to safely cross the road near bus stops/stations. There is no safe crossing point at Station Approach in Crediton and both the community at Fordton and the new Tarka development will struggle to access public transport safely. Greater consideration should be given as to how road conditions affect public transport
Frank noted that the recent changes to the Highway code which give priority to pedestrians and then cyclists was a good argument in favour of ensuring safe crossing were available
Graeme suggested that we concentrate on coming up with some safe crossing schemes so that if there is money available, we are able to take advantage of it.
Action point
- Everyone to come up with local priorities for where safe crossing points are needed. (ACTION ALL to send priorities to JH before next meeting)
- List to be sent to Stuart and Michelle ahead of the next meeting (ACTION JH)
- Keep on agenda (GB/JH)
- HATOC -responsibilities and functions
Liz noted that at the last HATOC there was an open discussion about speed limits in general and this reflects a discussion taking place within DALC about speed in general and more specifically speed of vehicles on single track roads and how this can be tackled. DLAC would welcome HATOC being a more open discussion forum to help DCC understand how local communities feel about issues.
How do you get items on the HATOC and how do we make best use of it?
Jim suggested that the new priorities in the Highway code and what should be done to implement them would make a good subject for discussion at HATOC
Action point
- Stuart to find out more details about how HATOC works - possibly speaking to Tony Matthews or Tom Vaughan with a view to someone coming along to a meeting to let us know how we can make best use of HATOC. (ACTION SJ)
- AOB
- Date of next meeting
Progress on Road Safety in Newton St Cyres
A follow up road safety meeting arranged by Ward Councillor Graeme Barnell was held in the village hall on October 8th, the meeting was attended by the Parish Council, County Councillor Margaret Squires and three senior DCC Highways managers led by as Jamie Hulland, Transportation Strategy & Road Safety Manager.
The meeting first discussed the proposed cycle route from Crediton to Exeter (recently been added to the Greater Exeter Transport Strategy) and how it may work together with our local Boniface Trail Group.
However, the main item on the agenda was the presentation by highways of their comprehensive report on the three (now four) options for the installation of a pedestrian controlled puffin crossing in the centre of the village.
The busy A377 running through the middle of Newton St Cyres presented a large number of challenges to Jacobs, the engineers commissioned by Highways to produce this report for our village. The report is attached.
A very constructive and positive meeting came to a satisfactory outcome, DCC HIghways are now willing to move forward with the installation of a Pedestrian Controlled Puffin crossing in the Centre of Newton St Cyres as per option d) which it will now submit for a safety audit.
This progress has to be tempered with the fact we are all aware that money is extremely tight and that the project is yet to pass a detailed safety audit before being fully costed and placed onto the Highways 20-21 Capital Project program. So it maybe some time before the pedestrian crossing is actually installed.
It is nevertheless extremely good news and after all these years it is a pleasant change to be able to publicly thank all involved, especially Highways and Jacobs for their hard work to date.
Click here to go to MDDC Councillor's page with minutes of the above meeting
Click here to access jacobs_option_d.pdf
Click here to access the Report from Jacobs Engineers
Clllr Roger Cashmore
The meeting first discussed the proposed cycle route from Crediton to Exeter (recently been added to the Greater Exeter Transport Strategy) and how it may work together with our local Boniface Trail Group.
However, the main item on the agenda was the presentation by highways of their comprehensive report on the three (now four) options for the installation of a pedestrian controlled puffin crossing in the centre of the village.
The busy A377 running through the middle of Newton St Cyres presented a large number of challenges to Jacobs, the engineers commissioned by Highways to produce this report for our village. The report is attached.
A very constructive and positive meeting came to a satisfactory outcome, DCC HIghways are now willing to move forward with the installation of a Pedestrian Controlled Puffin crossing in the Centre of Newton St Cyres as per option d) which it will now submit for a safety audit.
This progress has to be tempered with the fact we are all aware that money is extremely tight and that the project is yet to pass a detailed safety audit before being fully costed and placed onto the Highways 20-21 Capital Project program. So it maybe some time before the pedestrian crossing is actually installed.
It is nevertheless extremely good news and after all these years it is a pleasant change to be able to publicly thank all involved, especially Highways and Jacobs for their hard work to date.
Click here to go to MDDC Councillor's page with minutes of the above meeting
Click here to access jacobs_option_d.pdf
Click here to access the Report from Jacobs Engineers
Clllr Roger Cashmore
SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS
in Newton St Cyres
There are two plans to make the road safer in the village. First, It is being suggested that Newton will be the first village in the county to be equipped with average speed cameras. Where these have been deployed in Cornwall there has been a really significant reduction in the speed of vehicles. We have all seen that the average speed cameras on motorways are really effective. They will, apparently be clearly signed and drivers will have no way of escaping them. Lets hope that this makes the A377 safer for everyone.
It may well be that by controlling the speed of the traffic there is no need for the second plan.
It may well be that by controlling the speed of the traffic there is no need for the second plan.
The second plan is for a traffic light controlled crossing for pedestrians in the centre of the village. The original plans for two alternatives first suggested were available for all to see at the Parish Meeting on 4th. April. The third alternative has been suggested by Cllr Roger Cashmore and is shown above.
All three plans are available on the Parish Council website by clicking here.
It is important to note that these are preliminary plans and there will be a long period of consultation. If you would like to make your views known then you can do so via the Parish Council or by using the message tool below. If you do this we will publish your views on this website.
All three plans are available on the Parish Council website by clicking here.
It is important to note that these are preliminary plans and there will be a long period of consultation. If you would like to make your views known then you can do so via the Parish Council or by using the message tool below. If you do this we will publish your views on this website.
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“Geoff’s new Viking assault trike.” Perhaps the answer!
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