Traffic calming scheme ‘spectacular failure’

A £1.1million traffic calming scheme in Tiverton has been slammed by councillors as a “spectacular failure”.

Back in 2016, speed bumps were installed in Blundell’s Road and tarmacked footpaths were re-laid as part of a scheme designed to reduce speeds on the road and to make it safer for pedestrians.

The speed limit was slashed to 20mph in the area around Blundell’s School, and the scheme was hailed by Devon County Council as one of a number of cycle projects they have delivered since 2015.

But councillors lambasted the scheme, with Councillor Colin Slade saying that the remedial works that the county council had turn and improved it to “merely awful”.

He said: “The Blundell’s Road traffic calming scheme has been a spectacular failure. The initial construction was appalling and some remedial work has been done to improve it to merely awful.

“The ramps are extremely harsh, the drop-off takes people into drain grids, and it is a nightmare for cyclists and certainly not safer for them.

“It is effective in that you do well to 20mph over there, but it is thoroughly unpleasant for all road users.”

He added that for pedestrians walking to the school, it has been beautifully landscaped with a flat plateau with no kerbs, but that has been called into question after a motorist lost control, crashed across the pavement and into the front of Blundell’s School and demolished one of the signs.

Cllr Slade said: “Local residents are asking what we are going to do about it and if bollards will be put up to stop motorists mowing down the children. This is not one of our greatest success. It is what it is but there is unrest in Tiverton about this stretch of road.

“If anything can be done to improve it, give it your attention, because it is a nightmare for motorists, cyclists and the schoolchildren who are the bulk of the pedestrians.”

Cllr Ray Radford backed his comments, and said that the speed humps were “really vicious”.

Dave Black, head of plan- ning, transportation and environment for Devon County Council, said that when designed, it was a scheme that Mid Devon District Council and the school were keen on, and as a large housing development is set to be built in the area, everyone was keen that something was done about the road.

Mr Black added: “If people cannot drive over it too fast, then to me, it is working. People will have to get used to going slowly as it is in a very sensitive area.”

‘It is a nightmare for cyclists and certainly not safer for them’

Councillor Colin Slade