‘We are all singing from the same hymn sheet - we have all said no’

OPPOSITION voices to a proposed bus link in Newton Abbot loomed large at a drop-in session on Thursday, July 14, with local residents airing their views as part of an ongoing consultation.

The drop-in session, which took place at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, gave members of the public the chance to quiz officers from Teignbridge District Council (TDC) about the Bradley Lane Bus Link, which, if given the green light, would see a bus link created from Hunterswell Road into Bradley Lane.

At present there is no vehicle access between the two roads mentioned above and creating access would require a new section of road to be built and parking restrictions to be introduced along Barton Drive, Hunterswell Road and Bradley Lane.

The Mid-Devon Advertiser attended the drop-in day and, therefore, it would not be unreasonable to say that opposition voices far overshadowed those expressing support; those in favour were, of course, present but they were few and far between.

It should be mentioned that a common talking point among many of the residents present at the drop-in day was that they felt as though their concerns were falling on deaf ears: this point was hammered home by several residents in conversation with the Mid-Devon Advertiser.

One of the people who attended the drop-in session last week was Rick King.

Rick, who lives in Hunterswell Road, said: ‘We all bought houses in the area knowing it was a quiet, residential cul-de-sac: there was never, ever going to be a through road, it was not designed to be a through road.

‘I was quite surprised to read Cllr Gary Taylor’s statement, that one in five homes don’t have a vehicle: where has he got that information from?

‘I and many other residents want to look more in depth at what is going on.

‘There is no statement of need being done, there is no statement of requirement being done, there is nothing out there to suggest this bus route is needed.

‘We the residents have spoken at length, lots of us, and I am surprised that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet – we have all said no, we do not want this.

‘Of course you are going to have a few people who live a bit further away and think the proposal is great but actually of all the people I have spoken with, and I have spoken to a lot, only one person so far has been in favour.’

Many residents, Rick among them, also expressed concern that it would only be a matter of time before vehicles of all descriptions, not just buses and bicycles, will be able to use the bus gate.

‘They may say it is just a bus route now but I guarantee it will become accessible to taxis and community vehicles and emergency service vehicles, which I understand.

‘The ANPR camera will be funded up to point but through subsequent budgets, what will be one of the first things to go? The camera. Within four or five years we will see Hunterswell Road become a through road.’

In addition to these concerns many residents voiced their concern about the removal of the trees along Hunterswell Road, as well as increases to air, noise and light pollution.

A spokesperson for Teignbridge District Council said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who came to the drop in event and who gave us their views on the consultation proposals.

‘We had some really good conversations with residents who welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issues and said to us that they felt they had been listened to.

‘This is a genuine attempt to hear what people think of the proposals and we would urge everyone to give us their views by completing the feedback form on our website.

‘After the consultation closes on 1 August, we will consider all the feedback we receive before deciding next steps.’

► To read an extended version of this story with comments from local residents and local councillors, pick up a copy of this weeks Mid-Devon Advertiser (Thursday, July 21).