Some communities in Exeter are calling for safer streets and slower traffic in the wake of an aborted ‘active streets’ experiment which divided the city.
Some communities in Exeter are calling for safer streets and slower traffic in the wake of an aborted ‘active streets’ experiment which divided the city.
Three focus groups have taken place after the trial was scrapped last year, with local people agreeing that traffic needs to be controlled.
“Traffic is a city-wide problem, and needs a city-wide solution,” was one message from a participant.
Several streets around the Heavitree area were affected by the trial which began in 2023. Through-traffic was barred from some busy roads, with buses and taxis given special access.
Supporters said it made residential streets cleaner, quieter and safer, particularly in areas where children made their way to and from school.
But opponents said it simply moved the traffic to other places, making pollution problems worse there. There were angry protests at council meetings and confrontations at the places where roads were blocked to through-traffic.
The trial was halted last summer, having been intended to carry on until this year.
Members of the Exeter highways and traffic orders committee agreed that a solution still had to be found for traffic in the growing city, and vehicles had to be controlled near schools.
Many local people had agreed that something had to be done about traffic in Exeter, but disagreed with the active streets trial and a consultation held before Devon County Council brought it in.
In response, the focus groups met with local schools, community leaders and residents to discuss next steps.
The meetings were held in November, and highlighted community concerns around a lack of safe travel and a lack of trust in the decision-making process.
The ‘safe travel’ issue was a particular concern for children, the elderly and vulnerable people. They called for speed limits to be enforced and lowered.
They said traffic is getting worse, with safety being a particular concern near schools at drop-off and pick-up times.
A report from focus group facilitators LDA Design says they met people representing groups who were against the active streets trial but supported traffic calming and neighbourhood safety.
However, they were against the way the trial was imposed on them.
The report will be discussed at an Exeter highways and traffic orders committee meeting at County Hall next Tuesday 4th February.
WANTED | Luke Down, Exmouth/Exeter
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