Another accident today on the B3174 Exeter Road by Straitgate Farm

Today – just days after two similar incidents – another car crashed into the ditch near where the new cattle crossing is required for Aggregate Industries' scheme to quarry Straitgate Farm, a scheme that will put another 200 HGV movements a day onto this road. 

Two accidents today on the B3174 Exeter Road by Straitgate Farm

Aggregate Industries’ permitted plans to quarry Straitgate Farm will put another 200 HGV movements a day on this road. The incidents occurred in the same location as the cattle crossing, required as part of the scheme.

Major incident closes B3174 Exeter Road

A major incident has occurred on the B3174 Exeter Road into Ottery St Mary. 

A Sainsbury’s lorry lies burning in the ditch near Straitgate Farm this morning, forced off the road after passing a builders merchant HGV travelling in the opposite direction. 

Clearly, as we have said countless times before, there is insufficient width on parts of this road – the main road into and out of Ottery St Mary – for HGVs to comfortably pass each other. 

It again shows why Aggregate Industries’ scheme to quarry Straitgate Farm and put another 200 HGV movements a day on this stretch of road is both nonsensical and dangerous. 

This incident occurred in the same location as the permitted cattle crossing, which is also required as part of the company's plans.

Update for Exeter Road Ottery St Mary. The road will be closed for Several more hours. Please follow diversions and allow extra time for your journey. https://t.co/wwV6psnWjn

— Devon Alert (@DevonAlert) July 25, 2023

DevonLive report: "Sainsbury's lorry destroyed by huge fire with Devon road to remain shut for hours. Reports suggest the lorry was forced off the road by another oncoming HGV."

Lorry catches fire after leaving road https://t.co/2IOLfJahGe

— Spotlight (@BBCSpotlight) July 25, 2023

Accident on B3174 Exeter Road

An accident occurred on the B3174 Exeter Road on 12 December. A car hit a telegraph pole. The photo below shows the result. Police attended the incident and the occupant of the car was taken to hospital.

The location of the accident is only a short distance to the west of where Aggregate Industries has proposed a cattle crossing to facilitate its quarry plans for Straitgate Farm.  

This accident – one of many – again goes to underline the stupidity of such a scheme.

 

B3174 Exeter Road accident

This morning, another accident on the B3174 Exeter Road – to add to the already very long list. Time and time and time again, it has been demonstrated that the B3174 – the main road into and out of Ottery St Mary – is patently unsuitable for the up to 200 HGV movements a day Aggregate Industries requires for its proposals to quarry Straitgate Farm.

This accident happened just a few yards up from where 150 cows would be forced to cross this road 4x daily to seek replacement pasture as a result of the company's plans. What on earth could go wrong??

Another accident on the B3174 Exeter Road

The Air Ambulance was on the scene of yet another accident outside Straitgate this morning.

Motorbike accident causes delays near Ottery https://t.co/n90Nly1C1f

— Sidmouth Herald (@sidmouthherald) January 27, 2020

Another day, another accident on the B3174 Exeter Road

This was the scene on the B3174 Exeter Road this morning – with power outages in the area. Yet another accident. Yet further confirmation of the dangers of this road, and its unsuitability for Aggregate Industries' plans for up to 216 HGV movements a day.

The accident occurred in the very same location proposed for the cattle crossing that would result from Aggregate Industries’ plans – as the Straitgate dairy operation would be forced to seek replacement pasture on the south side of the road.

It was only in November that we pointed to Another accident on B3174 Exeter Road, we pointed to the almost accident-free picture painted by Aggregate Industries’ traffic consultants, we pointed to the numerous other accidents that have come to our attention over just the last 3 years.

We have only recently posted: AI’s TA fails to assess impact of cows on queueing traffic, Speeds of 80MPH + recorded on B3174 Exeter Road – and still no safety assessment and Transport Assessments & HGVs: How consultants create an alternative reality.

Another accident on B3174 Exeter Road

There was yet another accident just outside Straitgate Farm last night – again highlighting the dangers of this road, and its unsuitability for Aggregate Industries' plans for up to 216 HGV movements a day.

Of course, the company’s Transport Assessment paints a picture of sunshine and roses. It claims:

3.2.28 In summary one serious and two slight collisions have occurred on the examined section of highway network over the five year period.

If only it were so. We have posted about various accidents that have come to our attention over just the last 3 years – here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. No doubt there will have been many others.

Another day – another accident on the B3174 Exeter Road...

... Aggregate Industries' proposed haul road for up to 200 HGVs a day:

#Devon Between Daisy Mount Cross and Ottery St Mary Barrack Road is partially blocked due to an accident.[SG]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) May 13, 2019

Another accident today on B3174 Exeter Road

How could this dangerous stretch of the B3174 be suitable for Aggregate Industries' plans for up to 200 HGV movements a day, when there are already so many accidents? What impact would AI's 44-tonne lumbering HGVs add to the mix? Two lorries have already come off the road in 2019 – here and here.

#Devon At Ottery St Mary the B3174 is partially blocked by an accident between Toadpit Lane and the A30 at Daisy Mount Cross - approach with care [PL]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) May 9, 2019

Yet another HGV crash on the B3174 Exeter Road

OtteryMatters

It was only last month that we posted Another lorry in the ditch outside Straitgate.

Today, yet another truck has ended up coming off the B3174 Exeter Road.

What could possibly go wrong with Aggregate Industries' plans for Straitgate Farm to put up to 200 HGV movements a day along this same stretch of road?

Traffic info Barrack Road Ottery St Mary will be closed shortly for recovery of a vehicle in a ditch please take care I will update you once this is cleared many thanks Trailer👮🏻‍♂️🚓 @DCP_RDOBURNETT please share 👍👍👍 pic.twitter.com/Nt1j2OQUsi

— Ottery St Mary Police (@otterypolice) 15 March 2019

#Devon Near Ottery St Mary Exeter Road is CLOSED between Birdcage Lane and Daisy Mount Cross due to an accident and fallen power cables. The road is likely to remain closed for some time as specialist recovery will be required. [PL]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) 15 March 2019

EDIT 16.3.19 According to local reports, the lorry came off the road when trying to pass another truck coming from the opposite direction. The main road into and out of Ottery was closed for some 5 hours as a result. Those familiar with this road will be aware that this type of accident happens all too frequently - many documented on this blog - a clear indication that the road is not suitable for AI’s plans.

Another lorry in the ditch outside Straitgate

Yet more evidence today – if any more were needed after the accidents here, here, here and here – that this dangerous stretch of the B3174 Exeter Road is not suitable for Aggregate Industries' plans for up to 200 HGV movements a day.

Another accident on the B3174 Exeter Road

The scene this morning on the B3174. Further evidence that this dangerous stretch of road is unsuitable for Aggregate Industries' plans for up to 200 HGV movements a day.

The incident happened just across the road from where this lorry came off in 2016. 

Another accident on the B3174

The dangers of the B3174 Exeter Road - the road Aggregate Industries is proposing to use for up to 200 HGVs a day for the next 12 years - were again evident this morning when a car collided with an electricity pole near Straitgate Farm. The road is expected to be closed for most of the day.

The accidents that don't appear in DCC's records

In light of Aggregate Industries' ludicrous plans for the B3174, this video has been reposted by Ottery Fictional Matters - for those who missed it first time around:

Back in the real world, it's fortunate that no-one was injured on the B3174 in this scene from last year:

Or in this scene from earlier this year:

And because no-one was injured in these accidents, the data does not appear in DCC's injury collision records which are used to assess the suitability or not of the Exeter Road for AI's application for Straitgate Farm. If we exclude the accident that happened only last month, here are some more accidents, over the last year or so, that don't appear in the records either:

#Devon In Ottery St Mary we have reports of an accident on Exeter Road near Birdcage Lane. [PL]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) December 14, 2016

#Devon In West Hill Exeter Road is blocked due to an incident around Birdcage Lane.[SG]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) September 9, 2016

#Devon Ottery St Mary Exeter Road is partially blocked near Birdcage Lane due to an incident.[SG]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) June 20, 2016

#Devon #OtteryStMary #B3174 Exeter Road we have reports of an accident around Birdcage Lane, between the hospital and #A30. [SGr]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) November 4, 2015

Together they add to the evidence that shows how unsuitable the B3174 is for AI's plans; DCC's most recent Road Safety Statistics Year End Report already puts the B3174 Daisymount A30 to Ottery St Mary as one of the worst performing roads in Devon.

Another accident on the same road AI wants to put 200 HGVs a day

#Devon In West Hill, on Exeter Road, there's reports of an accident, involving a car and a bin lorry near Birdcage Lane.[LW]

— BBC Travel SouthWest (@BBCTravelSW) July 28, 2017

Yet another accident on AI's proposed haul road

The scene this morning on the B3174 - Aggregate Industries' planned route for up to 200 HGVs a day.

And the scene this afternoon.

More evidence today of why Ottery St Mary's B3174 Exeter Road is unsuitable for AI's 200-a-day HGV plans

#OtteryStMary #ExeterRoad closed due to overturned lorry. Closed at #Daisymount and Toadpit Lane pic.twitter.com/Y63umoyr6p

— PCSO Jack Stannard (@PCSOStannard) April 4, 2016