Devon Council highways officers are to try and press ahead with a controversial combined bus, lorry and cycle lane scheme for the A380 at Kingskerswell despite strong local opposition. Residents have lodged 187 complaints saying the plan is dangerous, could worsen congestion and lead to more drivers using back roads. Kingskerswell Parish Council has opposed the plan, but officials say it will 'make it easier for people to use alternative forms of transport to the car', tackle congestion and reduce pollution. The powerful Highways and Traffic Orders Committee is due to vote on the scheme at Old Forde House, Newton Abbot, today. Members will hear that the £127,000 scheme could reduce bus journeys between Torbay and Newton Abbot by up to three-and-a-half minutes. Highways engineer Graham Heath has concluded it must go ahead as part of an wider strategy. In his report, he said: 'A key element of the Transport Strategy for Devon is the promotion of public transport usage. This includes managing the highway network so as to give greater priority to road based public transport services.' Other planned changes on the A380 include banning traffic from turning right into Avenue Road and scrapping the existing cycle lanes. The new multi-use lanes would be signed 'Bus and HGV Only', but cyclists, taxi drivers and private hire vehicles will also be allowed to use them. They would extend for 250m from Furzedown Road to Jury's Corner on the southbound carriageway and from Southey Lane to Jury's Corner northbound. In Mr Heath's report he states: 'The scheme would result in some disbenefits for cyclists, primarily those from beyond Kerswell Gardens'. No changes are planned for Jury's Corner itself, although pressure is mounting for new 'intelligent' traffic lights to be installed. The bus lane scheme is not designed to be a replacement for the proposed Kingskerswell bypass.
