NEW mini roundabouts, changes in pedestrian crossings and new bus lay-bys are all part of a draft plan to give a better flow of vehicles through Crediton and to improve air quality.

This would make the town centre feel nicer, improve air quality for the majority of the High Street with St Lawrence Green area being one of the biggest winners but East Street area “still not good but can be sorted”.

This was what Mr Jon Tricker of Phil Jones Associates, urban design and transportation professionals, told members of Crediton Town Council’s Strategy Committee last week.

He was presenting the draft conclusions of their work on traffic and air quality in the High Street and The Green areas.

A “quite extensive” survey had shown how long traffic queued, where and why and where people crossed the road.

NEW CROSSINGS

Mr Tricker said they had been working with Mid Devon District Council with regard to how the scheme would help with air quality.

They had then created a simulation of how changes they proposed could affect traffic flow.

These changes included a roundel junction with Pelican crossings at The Green, a bit like a mini roundabout in place of the traffic lights.

The draft solution included a new courtesy crossing at the bottom of St Saviour’s Way, improved clearance around bus stops in the area of the Museum, improve the courtesy crossing near the Community Bookshop, better clearance for the bus stop at the War Memorial, courtesy crossing there and East Street, relocate the bus stops there in lay-bys and roundel junctions.

20MPH PILOT PLAN

The afternoon peak brought fewer pedestrians, so traffic was generally faster but still less than 20mph. Cars were delayed for less time.

Mr Tricker said more discussion was needed and they needed to look again at some areas. There would be a report for the town council in a few weeks.

Cllr Paul Vincent wondered if there would be enough room to take away part of the wide pavement opposite The Green (near the former restaurant, Il Casita) to create a bus pull in.

Cllr Nick Way said Devon County Council would like to see more 20mph areas and a pilot was currently being done at Newton Abbot. If successful and as money allowed, it would be introduced in the other 27 market towns including, he presumed, Crediton.

Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking said the Neighbourhood Plan had been looking at other improvements including some sort of crossing at the Mill Street - A377 junction and junction of Four Mills Lane with the A377.

NIGHT LANDING SITE

The Town Council has agreed for the installation of a Devon Air Ambulance night landing site on land owned by Mid Devon District Council which is leased to Crediton AFC.

Town Clerk Mrs Clare Dalley said DAAT had been talking with the district council and Crediton AFC about a site on its pitch but “a serious amount” of groundwork would be needed such as making a gateway wider. She said the total estimate for the work was £4,440 and one contractor could do it all.

He said they had a grant from DAAT of £1,600, the town council had earmarked £1,000 and the League of Friends of Crediton Hospital and its Community Patients had promised £2,000.

SCHOOL SITE

Giving an update on the Neighbourhood Plan Cllr Brookes-Hocking reported that Devon County Council had asked for the field at Stonypark, owned by Crediton Town Council, not to be marked for open space.

Reporting on the council’s Climate Change and Sustainability sub-committee, Cllr Brookes-Hocking said there would be a meeting in November and then monthly after that from January. The group has one member from Extinction Rebellion and one from Sustainable Crediton.

She was asked if a Wildlife Warden might be a good idea.

PLANNING

Members recommended the town council object to a planning application to convert the Kings Arms on Park Street into six dwellings with demolition of the existing toilet block, pub kitchen and toilets above for Mr Luke O’Cathail of Madasa Limited, The Cottage, Newbuildings.

Reasons for the objection included that this was overdevelopment, size of some apartments, the committee had issue with the information provided, only six cycle spaces, nowhere for a pram or such.

Not enough space to park bicycles, communal areas were not big enough, not enough room for recycling and refuse bin storage, no adequate parking provision and the extra vehicles the development would bring would have an adverse impact on the already pressured parking in the area.

LANDSCORE

It was also recommended the council objected to an outline application from Mr Cummins as agent to build nine dwellings on land east of The Parks, Landscore (NGR 282522 100321),

It was felt nine dwellings was overdevelopment, lack of amenity space, not enough parking space, hard standing was not porous and water attenuation was felt not to be adequate.

Also included in the objections were that there was no pedestrian footway provision, they would tower over other properties, its impact on the Conservation Area and it was contrary to the town council’s Neighbourhood Plan as it would mean losing a Devon bank.

The committee recommended no objection to an application with a revised scheme to convert The Crown of Crediton to five dwellings for Mr and Mrs Ho.

It was felt the landscaping could be improved, including trees at the front of the building. It was noted that there was parking provision at the back.

There was no objection to an application with a revised scheme for a two-storey extension at 7 Barn Park after demolition of the existing garage and putting up a rear covered way for Ms P Hannaford. However, the council questioned parking provision due to loss of the garage.

NO OBJECTION

There was no objection to an application to put up a 730 square metre livestock building at Danbury Farm.

There was no objection to a notification of intention to thin and reduce the crown of one evergreen oak by 1.2 metres, one hawthorn, one plum and one copper beech tree and to thin and reduce the height of a cherry tree within the Conservation Area at Kinross, Pounds Hill, for Mr and Mrs Tucker.

Nor was there objection to a notification of intent from Great Western Railway to crown lift all trees to three metres from ground level within the Conservation Area at Crediton Railway Station.

There was no objection to an application to build a front porch at Amber House, Tolleys for Mr and Mrs R Moles.

DECISIONS

It was noted that among applications approved by Mid Devon District Council was provision of a fitting bay door to facilitate the MoT bay and a new customer entrance and sidescreen at ATS Euromaster on Mill Street.

It was noted that the district council had refused an application from Mr and Mrs C and L Ladd to build three dwellings on land adjacent to 2, 3 and 4 Jockey Cottages, Jockey Hill, Blagdon.

Also refused was an outline application for one dwelling at 16 Blagdon Close for Mr Andrew Wills.