Latest consultation launched on Heavitree and Whipton streets

A second round of consultation has been launched on changes to streets in the Heavitree and Whipton areas of Exeter.

More than 570 people took part in the initial consultation last year. This raised a number of key issues including the need for priority to be given to walking and cycling and to reduce the impact of vehicle traffic on a number of residential roads, including Ladysmith Road, Hamlin Lane, Sweetbrier Lane and Thornpark Rise. There were also calls for measures to improve safety on the roundabout at Sweetbrier Lane and Whipton Lane, as well as requests for electric vehicle charging points.

In response to this feedback, several interventions have been identified to reduce traffic levels and carbon emissions, and to encourage active travel.

Devon County Council is now asking local people for their views on options to make it easier to walk and cycle in their communities and reduce the impact of traffic.

A number of “modal filters” are proposed to prevent through traffic but allowing a mixture of either buses, cyclists and pedestrians to pass through. These measures intend to create quieter, safer residential roads across the Heavitree and Whipton areas, to create better places for people, and enable more people to choose walking and cycling for shorter journeys.

The consultation will also aim to establish where there is demand for electric vehicle charging facilities.

The Heavitree and Whipton “Local Streets” consultation will continue until Thursday 7 October. If you wish to speak to members of the project team, an online consultation webinar will be held on Thursday 16 September from 5:30pm-7pm. The webinar will include a short presentation of the proposals, followed by a question and answer session. To register for this webinar, please email Transportplanning@devon.gov.uk so that you can be sent a link to join the webinar, which will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management said: “We’re calling on the Whipton and Heavitree community to help us make the neighbourhood greener, healthier and more attractive for them. The feedback to this consultation will enable us to trial preferred measures to tackle issues before considering making them permanent.”

Councillor Danny Barnes, County Councillor for Heavitree and Whipton Barton, said: “I am really pleased to see the second phase of the consultation go live, and I strongly encourage all residents in Heavitree and Whipton to respond. One part of tackling the climate emergency is reducing our dependence on car travel. Of course, some journeys by car are essential, but traffic is often the product of individual choices. I am hoping the outcomes of this phase go a long way to make cycling and walking easier, meeting our carbon reduction targets, delivering safer streets and improving our air quality.”

Councillor Su Aves, County Councillor for St Sidwells and St James, said: “I would like to thank all those residents that responded to the first consultation. It was really helpful to read your ideas, comments and aspirations for your local area. It is so helpful to have an idea of what local residents want to happen, in their own neighbourhood, so that this can inform the changes. Now you will be able to comment on the choices offered in this second consultation. Your local area can be made safer and quieter for you. This will give you options each day to choose your mode of travel whether it be by foot, mobility scooter, cycle, bus, taxi, car or van etc. During the pandemic so many people spoke of how wonderful it was to walk along quiet roads and hear the birds sing. You could make your local residential roads in your neighbourhood quieter again by choosing an option you think will work for you. Please also consider how your decision could impact on your family, friends and neighbours. Active travel is found to improve both physical and mental health, with the added bonus of improving the environment.”

Measures which receive the most public support are expected to form part of a trial later this year.

Improvements will aim to help achieve Devon County Council’s ambition for 50% of all Exeter journeys to be made by foot or bicycle by 2030, as set out in the Transport Strategy 2020-2030. Similar objectives are shared in Exeter City Council’s Carbon Neutral 2030 plan and the Local Delivery Pilot programme which aims to make Exeter the most active city in England.

The information for the consultation is available on our Have Your Say webpages Heavitree and Whipton (Exeter) local streets and https://placebuilder.io/exeterstreets/heavitreeandwhipton