CREDITON Traffic Action Group would like to make one more appeal to all who care about the future of our town.

The independent Inspectors who presided at the hearings into the Development Plan Document have suggested that the opportunity should be given to anyone wishing to make written response concerning some of the material in the Plan, which emerged during the Examination. 

It is important that any representations should be kept strictly to the new material only.   Nothing else will be forwarded to the Inspectors.

However, there is plenty of scope to comment on the issues put forward which so vitally affect our town, and indeed this may well be your last chance to do so!  The main points are:

1. Deletion of the protected by-pass route – This route has been protected for more than 25 years.  The Council now claims that it is an "essentially historic matter, which needed to be abandoned in accordance with current national and local policies". 

This by-pass was considered essential enough at the time for it to be included in the 1985/86 programme of works, but anything will become "historic" if it is shoved aside for long enough. 

So they have taken away our by-pass  and plan to use the land instead "for other purposes", which, no doubt, means yet more housing and industrial development to add to that which already strains our out-dated infrastructure.

• We know there is no short-term likelihood of a by-pass, but it is still the only long-term solution to the town's traffic and air pollution problems, and the only solution which would have any effect on the unacceptable levels of pollution in the High Street.

Once it is taken away, it will be lost for ever, with no other route available in future to accommodate traffic generated by any developments in communities west of the town or any changes in road transport strategy.

• The Pedlarspool development could accommodate a road which would follow the by-pass route and could also accommodate a new Rugby Club. Housing developments should not be isolated north of the by-pass route.

1. Revised line of Link Road – Hillside Route – Apart from bringing little or no relief from pollution levels in the High Street (and debatable and theoretical relief in Exeter Road) this route is unsatisfactory because the traffic  headed north and west from Lords Meadow will pass the site for the new school, with hundreds of children and school buses using the route daily. 

It doesn't take much imagination to forecast a scenario fraught with danger.   From its exit in Exhibition Road the route will continue through totally unsuitable residential areas, with pinch points, narrow pavements or none at all.

• Crediton is tired of being fobbed off with cheap, half-hearted solutions when we have air pollution at  the levels of some major cities.

• If any of this prompts you to take up the invitation to make representations on these vital issues, you should address your *letter to:  The Principal Forward Planning Officer, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton EX16 6PP. The last date for receipt of letters is Friday, July 2.  We may not get the chance again.                                      

Judi Binks

Co-ordinator Crediton Traffic Action Group

* For those who prefer to email, the address is: [email protected]">[email protected] and copy it to the programme officer at Mid Devon: [email protected]">[email protected] .