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Exeter road could be permanently one-way

Student flats being built near Mary Arches

The Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee next week are recommended to make permanent the temporary measures imposed in Bartholomew Street East and West when work on the Quintana Gate student flats plans began.

The student flats plans saw music venue Mama Stones demolished and turned into a 31-bed student housing block, while across the road, 127 student flats are being built at Quintana Gate.

Temporary one-way traffic restrictions in Bartholomew Street East and West were put in place in January 2018, making the route between Mary Arches Street and Fore Street one-way southbound, from Mary Arches Street to Friernhay Street, to provide a suitable route for construction traffic.

Dave Black, Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, is recommending that the Exeter HATOC, at their meeting on Tuesday 9th July, make permanent the temporary measures, that he says have led to an improved environment and are strongly supported by local residents.

His report adds: “It is recommended that the scheme be approved in order to reduce the impact of vehicles in the city centre and provide a more attractive area for residents, pedestrians and cyclists.”

The estimated scheme cost for the proposal is £53,000, and Mr Black’s report adds: “Up until the point of construction on the Quintana Gate Development beginning, the road had provided two-way access for vehicles. The route is generally narrow for two-way flow and includes two tight 90-degree turns which are pinch points on the route with poor visibility for motorists and cyclists.

“During the temporary closure, the County Council received correspondence from a local resident stating the improvements to access, noise and air pollution as a result of the temporary traffic order. With the temporary traffic order establishing support for the one-way system, and agreement from the local member, we now want to capitalise on the benefit of the temporary arrangements and make them permanent.

“The proposed scheme seeks to build on the positive outcomes that have arisen from temporary traffic arrangements. The temporary arrangements have highlighted that the alternative of returning to two-way vehicle route would be a worse outcome.”

If approved by the Exeter HATOC, Bartholomew Street East and West would be one-way to southbound traffic only from Mary Arches Street to Allhallows Court, except for cyclists. Two-way access from Fore Street to Allhallows Court and Homecourt House will be maintained.

A letter drop took place in the area in May and of the 16 people who responded, 15 were in favour, saying that congestion, safety, noise and air pollution due to the temporary arrangements had been improved. Only one comment was against the plans, saying that it would increase the taxi fare for residents of Homecourt House to Exeter St David’s and Exeter Central railway stations.

The Exeter HATOC are recommended that the traffic regulation order for the one-way and contraflow cycle lane on Bartholomew Street East and Bartholomew Street West be advertised and that the scheme to introduce a southbound one-way traffic restriction on Bartholomew Street East and West between Mary Arches Street and Allhallows Court be approved for construction.

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