‘Back to bad old days’ if Barnstaple road reopens

All quiet: Residents say they fear the return of the traffic jam if Taw Vale in Barnstaple was reopened to allow traffic to drive on to the Square once more..

Tony Gussin Wednesday, February 20, 2013
10:00 AM

Residents fear a reopened Taw Vale in Barnstaple could bring traffic and congestion back to their streets.

A decision by town councillors to lobby for the ‘reopening’ of Taw Vale in Barnstaple to traffic has been met with protest by some residents.

They fear a return to the days of congestion, noise and pollution if the road reverts to allow drivers to access the Square and Longbridge.

It follows the council’s planning and transportation committee agreeing to write to Devon County Council supporting various measures for the town centre traffic system proposed by Councillor Simon Harvey.

In 2009, Karen Laird gathered a petition of 649 signatures calling for the road to remain exactly as it has been since the creation of the downstream bridge and Western Bypass.

The Taw Vale resident says she would dread a return to the bad old days.

“People are more than happy with the street as it is and it’s absolute bliss at the moment,” she said.

“Lots of people run, cycle or walk their dogs along here and it is now a sought after part of the town.

“I think the bridge made a massive difference and most tend not to drive here now as there really is no need.”

Tony Binns from Newport is also keen to see things stay just as they are: “I can’t see the point of reopening that roundabout after all the years of trouble we had,” he said.

“There was stationary traffic up Newport and along the Vale – the idea of re-organising the town centre was to divert that along the link road. It would be a waste of taxpayers’ money and a crazy idea to try and resolve the problem.”

Town councillor Steve Upcott said: “Opening the roads as Cllr Harvey demands could result in a bill of £100,000 from the highways budget, just to change the system to suit him.”

12 comments

it must be kept closed. It is much more pleasant and a lovely area to walk and cycle. Cant be bothered with all the political score pointing. Leave it be and lets us residents enjoy this unique area of town. No political scoring please.....

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barnstapleresident

Monday, February 25, 2013
Mr Milton I don't think you live in Barnstaple but have businesses here. Go and knock on the doors of the residents in Taw Vale and ask them what they think. I say keep it closed. Barnstaple was a massive traffic jam before and as a regular vehicle driver for many years the new system is much better. Maybe you should concentrate on Braunton.

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barnstapleresident

Monday, February 25, 2013
Of course the residents there would object....(some of the same ones who park on double yellow lines on Taw Vale I suspect). Of course it will be noisier for them (again) but there are very few of them compared to the thousands who would gain. The road should be used and it would NOT be a rat-run again as the bypass(es) is now there - have the objectors forgotten this crucial difference? There is loads of space for cycles and walkers next to the river too so that's no argument. Reopening access onto the Square (even for just a left turn perhaps if so decided, for safety reasons) would be very wise and relieve some of the Square congestion issues. It would reduce pollution as well, as Newport residents try to access the other side of the Bridge & don't have to go miles to do so. Traffic calming in Newport would not entice anybody to cut down there as opposed to using the proper relief roads. Removing Cllr Greenslade's red herring roundabout would be very wise too - it is dangerous and difficult to manoeuvre for large vehicles anyway. It would also reduce traffic down historic Litchdon Street which has to go there as it can't escape onto the Square. And don't criticize Cllr Simon Harvey as he has no compromised interest - he has impaired vision so it his campaign is against his personal circumstances. Hurry-up and reopen Taw Vale!

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Philip Milton

Sunday, February 24, 2013
I agree Trevor this should be left well alone. Not all Barnstaple Town Councillors Agree and I think out of 24 Cllrs only a handful sit on that committee. My feelings are it would be used as a rat run again and Like Karen Laird who lives on Taw Vale it would be a set back. It would cost thousands of pounds to revert back.

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barnstapleresident

Saturday, February 23, 2013
They should have done it at the time when the new traffic system was created. Now, to reopen Taw Vale they would probably have to plough a road across the Square again, which I suspect would cost more than the Councillors want to spend.

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W Rowe, Barnstaple

Thursday, February 21, 2013
The part of Taw Vale in the photograph does have an off-road cycle path but the part further back towards Newport does not. However, this section of (currently quite quiet road) is a key link in the cycling infrastructure of Barnstaple - linking the cyclepath from Newport to that by the river at Rock Park. If this section were to be reopened to all through traffic the volume of cyclists using this well used bit of infrastructure would drop enormously. Those people would get back in their cars and add to the congestion and pollution. This is really not the way to go!

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Eos

Thursday, February 21, 2013
Although I do not live in Taw Vale I do not support the reopening of the road. I believe it would create even greater traffic difficulties at the junction in the Square. (Another set of traffic lights perhaps?) If they really want to improve the traffic flow at the LongbridgeSquareBelle Meadow, then DCC should take a look at the four sets of traffic lights: which are currently function entirely in favour of the pedestrian. If the lights were synchronised, and the delay between light changes were increased, traffic would be able flow more smoothly and as a result the current jams could be reduced.

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Desmond

Thursday, February 21, 2013
Cllr Harvey should remember he was elected to speak for the residents not himself, and as he lives so close by does he declare an interest ?

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Preston

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Open it up and the sooner the better.then open up the strand.why should anyone in Newport have to go all around belle meadow when you can be in the square in a couple hundred yards!!! Certainly no problem cycling or walking along taw vale as its got the widest pavement in north devon leave alone barnstaple. I can see why the residents are resisting but I would imagine at least 95% bought there property when traffic was aloud along there so in my opinion. They have no case. I quiet fancy my home street being made vehicle free except for the residents but I can't see it happening somehow. Hope the council get real and open it up for all the people of barnstaple and not remain closed except for the odd bus,taxis and the benefit of a handful of residents .

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barumboy

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Please remember those long delays and don't vote for Taw Vale to become a "rat run" again !

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frank

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Opening Taw Vale would bring back the traffic tailback from the square making Barnstaple once again "The Home Of The Traffic Jam".Leave well alone.

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trevor balment

Wednesday, February 20, 2013
I live in Newport and so reopening Taw Vale would make my journey by car into town easier, however I do not want that road to be reopened. Right now it is a pleasure to walk and cycle along the riverside there. Indeed the riverside in general is one of Barnstaple's greatest natural assets. Don't spoil it with this retrograde proposal.

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Eos

Wednesday, February 20, 2013