Ian Howes, of Addison Road, Newton Abbot, writes:
I saw half a dozen workmen and a couple of flatbed trucks doing some minor road patching near St Luke's Church on the Torquay side of Penn Inn. I'm sure that they were very quick and efficient but the congestion caused was out of all proportion to the work being done. Traffic around the The Penn Inn roundabout and its feeder roads was backed-up and stationary for ages.
Caught in this hold-up, I had plenty of time to wonder just how much congestion to the whole Newton Abbot area would be caused if the proposed plans for a fly-over and new traffic lanes at Penn Inn ever come to fruition.
This massive road-building will have to be done over Penn Inn itself and in about 40 yards of width between Sainsbury's and Addison Road. How will all of the Newton Abbot/Torquay/Exeter traffic get past?
It can't go through Decoy because of the railway bridge and it can't go up the St Marychurch Road because it's too narrow.
Based on what I saw, I can foresee months of unbelievable congestion and delay for miles around should there ever be major works around Penn Inn. I've written to Devon County Council to ask them how they intend to handle the stuation and what effects it will have on the local economy if their plans are approved.
I look forward to their response.