Thursday 4 October 2018

Leader of DCC replies to MP Hugo Swire

Last month we posted that Sir Hugo Swire, following a meeting with local people:
... has written to Cllr John Hart, Leader of DCC, pointing out that a safer access proposal has been put forward to DCC by Vectos, with the backing of local people, but that no response has yet been elicited, and that "road safety and the transport of children is causing me real concern" – the access point for AI’s 44-tonne HGVs is used as a school bus stop for pupils from King's and Colyton
His letter to Cllr Hart was clear:
They are very much concerned about the access onto the B3174 and some constituents have commissioned Vectos to come up with an alternative proposal… Can I ask you to investigate this and let me know what is happening here?
We had posted about the alternative proposal from Vectos back in March – Revised junction plan put forward by Group eliminates pedestrian & HGV conflict:



According to Vectos, following a subsequent meeting with DCC’s highways officer last month:
DCC are currently waiting for a Transport Assessment from the new consultant working for the applicant but he confirmed that one of the possibilities that the consultant would be looking at was a new access proposal on Exeter Road (west of Birdcage Lane/Toadpit Lane) – which is very encouraging.
But readers will see that, whilst Cllr Hart’s reply does address agricultural movements and a number of other transport issues, his letter fails to address the central thrust of Sir Hugo Swire's letter – the alternative access proposal: