Newton Abbot funding approved
FUNDING has been approved towards a new link road between Newton Abbot Hospital and Bovey Tracey Road at Jetty Marsh, despite opposition from some Teignbridge councillors.
The road will provide a vehicle, cycle and pedestrian route into the town, ahead of 135 new homes being built at the Berry Knowles development.
The £600,000 contribution from Teignbridge District Council (TDC) is part of the £6.7 million local contribution required from Devon County Council and TDC for the link and the remaining improvements planned for the A382, between the hospital and Drumbridges roundabout.
Contributions that developers make to local communities through the Community Infrastructure Levy will cover TDC’s share of the costs.
Through an agreement with developers Sibelco, the impact on the environment from the work will be reduced by extracting materials from the site to use in the development of the road, removing the need and costs of transporting it from elsewhere.
The Jetty Marsh link road includes a new roundabout at Whitehill Cross and will improve access for people walking and cycling into the town or to the hospital, as well as reducing congestion for traffic.
Phase One of the A382 improvement programme between Forches Cross and Whitehill Cross was completed last year, with TDC contributing £5.1 million towards the £13.2 million cost. Work on the first part of the Houghton Barton link road is nearing completion, and £38 million has been secured from the Government to upgrade the remainder of the A382 Drumbridges to Newton Abbot route.
At last week’s full meeting TDC, Councillor Gary Taylor (Lib Dem, Dawlish South West), executive member for planning, said: “Ongoing upgrades to the A382 corridor have long been a priority [for TDC] and, despite the short-term pain that roadworks often bring, these improvements are a necessity for the efficiency of the wider road network in and around Newton Abbot.”
During a debate, Councillor Richard Daws (Newton Says No, Ambrook) said he would be “more encouraged” if TDC was taking steps to get people out of cars and to reinstate the Newton Abbot to Heathfield rail line, “rather than spending money on road improvements to the detriment of the environment.”
Concerns were also raised at the meeting about the road leading to “rat-run traffic” going past the hospital, but a majority of members voted to approve the financial contribution.