Active road test suspended after independent review

An active road trial in Exeter is to be suspended following an independent review.

On Monday, temporary traffic filters will be removed from Hamlin Lane, Vaughan Road and Whipton Lane in the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets test area.

Following the decision by the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) earlier this month to suspend Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders for these roads “as soon as practicable”, officers are investigating whether the planters can be left in place to calm traffic while allowing through traffic to pass through.

Before contractors could be appointed to remove the devices, an independent road safety review, an on-site meeting with county councillors and highways officials and a further investigation of options were carried out over the past few weeks.

The road safety audit identified numerous potential problems for road users.

These included concerns about the danger to cyclists passing the kerb of the planters and how they can safely rejoin traffic, and the impact of yield markers blocking access to side streets and driveways. The review also concluded that retaining the planters would provide minimal traffic calming benefits compared to removing them, as parked cars would constrict traffic and the planters would be close to a roundabout where speeds would normally be lower.

Once this work is completed, the traffic filters and planters will be removed next week.

To support this process, we will now focus on other elements of the recent HATOC decision, namely holding discussions with all schools in the trial area, disability card holders and representatives of people with protected characteristics (including disabled people, older people and carers) to obtain more detailed feedback on the impact of the scheme. Focus groups with community leaders and residents will also be organised in the autumn and officials will prepare for these meetings over the summer.

According to the agreement with Exeter HATOC, the temporary traffic filters and planters in Ladysmith Road/Park Road and St. Marks Avenue will be removed after the end of the summer term.