The £120k 'smart' plan to unclog one of North Devon’s biggest bottlenecks

A new high-tech traffic management system has been approved for the centre of Braunton, as local authorities move away from decades of debate regarding a multi-million-pound bypass.

The North Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) has confirmed the installation of MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) technology at the village’s primary A361 junction.

The system uses real-time sensors to monitor traffic volume and speed, automatically adjusting signal timings to “optimise green time.”

The project aims to reduce “idling”, the time vehicles spend stationary with their engines running, at the busy crossroads connecting the A361, Caen Street, and East Street.

ABOVE: The junction of the A361/Caen Street/East Street in Braunton. Image courtesy: Devon County Council

The decision follows years of congestion in Braunton, which is often cited as one of England’s largest villages. 

At a meeting on Friday, 13 February, the committee heard that the current four-way junction frequently reaches capacity due to high vehicle flows, “conflicting” turning movements, and significant pedestrian activity.

Devon County Councillor for Braunton Rural, Graham Bell (Lib Dem), described the upgrade as an “excellent project” but noted the limitations of the village’s historic geography.

“Braunton remains a pre-medieval village with 2026 traffic,” Cllr Bell said. “The reality is that our road design is based on a pre-medieval road network and the popular model for a bypass would not relieve the bulk of traffic who are travelling to and from Knowle, Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and Combe Martin.”

He added that while “nothing on earth” would prevent queues during the peak summer period, the new sensors would allow traffic to flow more easily throughout the rest of the year.

The approval of the MOVA system marks a pivot away from the concept of a bypass through the Great Field, an idea that has been discussed locally for over 80 years.

Cllr Bell noted that the first suggestions for such a route were reportedly made by American servicemen stationed in the area during the Second World War. 

It is understood the servicemen sought a way to avoid military checkpoints in the village centre when returning from Barnstaple.

However, a report to the committee concluded that modern infrastructure-based interventions are no longer feasible. 

Officials cited a combination of “high cost and environmental challenges” as the primary barriers.

Cllr Bell described the continued pursuit of a bypass as a “prosaic fantasy,” estimating the cost would fall between £20m and £40m. 

He stated that such funds are “simply not available” in the current climate.

Concerns were also raised regarding the environmental impact on the North Devon Biosphere and the local Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 

Cllr Bell stated that the “vast majority” of residents would oppose the environmental disruption required to build a bypass through these protected areas and residential homes.

The £120,000 required for the “smart” technology has been secured from two development schemes at Chivenor. 

As the funding consists of Section 106 developer contributions allocated approximately a decade ago, the project will have no impact on the public purse.