Anger over planned Plymouth road closure

Traffic would be diverted to congested Deep Lane Junction

Anger has erupted over plans to close off a section of road that runs between Sherford and Plympton which local people say will force them to use the congested A38 and Deep Lane Junction and add miles to their travel times.

The Sherford Consortium has applied to permanently close a 282-metre stretch of highway known as ‘Road Past Vealeholme’, which runs between Main Street in Sherford and Plympton Hill.

The decision to make a ‘stopping up’ order for a public highway lies with the secretary of state for transport and local residents have until the end of March to make their views known.

The consortium says the closure “would take pressure off existing rural roads” in Plympton St Maurice and it was a solution “agreed with South Hams District Council,” the controlling authority for the area, and “backed by Devon County Council”.

In its application it states: “Closing the shortest part of the existing cut-through between Sherford and Plympton will encourage motorists to use alternative routes that connect into the wider road network.

“This includes travelling via Deep Lane, rather than through rural roads. With planned improvements at Deep Lane – including road widening and the creation of a new pedestrian and cyclist bridge – it is anticipated that the route will be better positioned to accommodate traffic safely and efficiently.”

The Consortium said it was responding to concerns raised by residents and representatives from the neighbouring community regarding traffic travelling to, from or through Sherford, and the impact this has on roads in Plympton St Maurice but also essential works were required in this area to divert the gas pipeline and overhead cables ahead of the construction of Phase 4 of the Sherford development, a new town  of 5,500 homes.

“Bringing these works forward enables us to make the difficult but necessary decision to enforce a road closure now that was required in due course, and allows the works to progress,” it said.

But local resident Barbara Gaze said it would severely impact residents and throw more traffic at the “gridlocked” Deep Lane/ A38 junction.

She said her home in Vinery Lane (partially closed over a decade ago as part of the infrastructure works  at Sherford) to Stanborough Cross used to be less than a mile but it would  be nearly four miles if the road closure went ahead.

Plymouth City councillor Terri Beer (Ind, Plympton Erle) has been trying to find out more about the closure having been “in the dark” about it. She said councillors had not been involved and it had caused “confusion and concern and generated a huge amount of debate and feeling”.

Comments on her Facebook post about the closure included one from a community  nurse who said traffic was adding so much time to her and her colleagues day,  time which they couldn’t see patients.

“Deep Lane is horrific and Haye Road is backed up to Stag Lodge some days,” she said.  “We use this road to get from St Maurice to Sherford and if it’s closed we will end up sat in that already crazy traffic.

“Could they consider reopening the section of Vinery Lane ? It won’t help the other traffic build up but it will keep a direct access to Plympton from Sherford?”

Others said closing the road at Plympton Hill was “a big mistake”

And there was concern about a lack of infrastructure to cope with the traffic that Sherford and the expansion of Langage Industrial Estate had created,

South West Devon Conservative MP Rebecca Smith said many people had contacted her to express their views.

“This route is one of the most direct connections between Sherford and Plympton, providing daily access to schools, healthcare, shopping, and other essential services.,” she said.

But she added that discussions about the future of this road link had been ongoing as part of the wider Sherford development plans, and it had long been recognised that changes may be considered.

It has also been suggested that the proposal aims, in part, to reduce traffic through the Plympton St Maurice Conservation Area.

Miss Smith said she is working to ensure local views are considered and has requested details of the traffic modelling and impact assessments.

Cllr Dan Thomas, South Hams District Council’s leader, said closing the section of road would progress  the Sherford masterplan which would see the route replaced by the new estate roads that will be built as part of the development.  

While the road in its current form would be removed, a new route through Sherford would therefore be possible following construction,” he said.

“This is being planned now following pressure from neighbouring communities to address a longstanding legal obligation requested by Plymouth City Council. As the neighbouring highway authority, the city council wanted to manage the flow of traffic, and concerns about a ‘rat run’ through the narrow roads of Plympton St Maurice. 

“The original plan was for a bollard to be installed at the top of Bullers Hill which would have prevented all traffic.

“As part of discussions with Plymouth City Council colleagues, The Sherford Consortium has brought forward the closure of the road process (stopping up) as a short-term measure to address this legal obligation. This is ahead of more permanent proposals that are still needed as part of this development.

“Access to Bullers Hill will still be available by other routes in the area.”

He said he was also aware of how difficult it had been for residents to view details of the consultation.  

“Unfortunately, this is a process managed by the Department of Transport and no details are provided on their statutory notices of how to view the details online.” 

Information was, however, available on South Hams Council’s website at www.southhams.gov.uk/sherford-draft-order-sw6207 along with details of how representation can be made the secretary of state’s casework team.