Poor state of roads is raised during transport secretary’s pit-stop visit
GREEN transport was on the agenda when Transport Secretary Mark Harper visited North Devon recently.
The area's MP Selaine Saxby welcomed him to see where £5 million of Government funding for road safety improvements to the A361 will be spent and discussed the announcement on net-zero emission busses for Barnstaple.
The funding comes from the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme, which will see electric buses in towns, villages and cities across England, including the most rural parts of the country, many of which will get zero emission buses for the first time.
Devon has received more than £5.3m for electric vehicle charging to help residents without off-street parking switch to electric vehicles.
During the visit Ms Saxby also took the opportunity to raise the urgency for reopening the Barnstaple bus station after visiting the Barnstaple railway station and its successful café. She also mentioned the issues with overcrowding on the Barnstaple trains and how further improvements can be made to better manage the train line.
Ms Saxby said: “I have been contacted by residents across North Devon and councillors across the political spectrum regarding the poor condition of our roads.
“I took the opportunity to raise this issue with the Secretary of State for Transport, on his recent visit to North Devon, how we can expedite the repairs and ensure they are done efficiently, especially now that the funding, I helped secure, is now with Devon County Council. I would like to thank the Transport Secretary for his visit and for his reassurance on this matter.
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Devon’s roads are 2,000 miles longer than any other county, and longer than Norway’s entire road network
“I know there are teams across Devon working hard on the roads, but Devon's roads are 2,000 miles longer than any other county, and longer than Norway's entire road network.
“However, I, like you, want to know when we will see improvements beyond just patching, so I am glad to have been able to show the Transport Secretary how urgent some of our cases are here.
“But potholes aside, as we look to decarbonise our transport network, I am delighted that the 21 and 21A buses will become electric, and having raised the closure of the Barnstaple bus station with the Secretary of State, I hope we will have an open bus station to use in Barnstaple long before that electrification.”
On his visit to North Devon, Mr Harper said: “We are really pleased that this (Safer Roads Fund) scheme has been awarded to the A361 where there are real challenges on the road; it's got a poor safety record so it is brilliant that its in the Safer Roads Fund, with just over £5m going to Devon County Council.
“We've been able to talk to the team this morning about the detail and what they are going to do to help make these roads safer.
“Over a number of years this investment is going to save lives, prevent casualties, and really improve road safety in North Devon.”
Selaine Saxby, North Devon MP