Final bid approval for Kingskerswell Bypass

By newtonnews | Thursday, July 14, 2011, 13:02

The final bid for plans for the South Devon Link Road have been approved by Devon County Council who declared it a last chance for the scheme to get off the ground after decades of waiting.

Plans for the South Devon Link Road have been approved by Devon County.

The modified proposals, which involve phasing of the overall scheme to reduce initial construction costs, are estimated at some £110 million. The bid to the Department for Transport is for just over £76million and councillors have agreed to a cost sharing arrangement with Torbay Council where Devon would contribute just under £17million. Torbay Council will now discuss funding the same amount.

Devon County Council Leader John Hart said: "This is the last chance for the scheme. We have cleared all of the hurdles so far and I think this is a scheme well worth considering, but Government funding is essential. We look forward to the support of our members of parliament because we're going to need their support to clear the next hurdle."

In response to a series of exhibitions held in Torquay, Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot and Milber last month to update members of the public on the progress of the plans, the report to cabinet put forward revised recommendations to reinstate the Aller Road link, which had initially been earmarked for deferral. It follows a review of feedback from the exhibitions which revealed that 72% were in favour of the scheme. However, the response from Kingskerswell residents and public transport operator Stagecoach was that the reinstatement of the Aller Road Link was necessary.

County councillor Stuart Hughes said: "The problems resulting from the traffic congestion in Kingskerswell are well known - with 35,000 vehicles a day the A380 can't take any more traffic, so there is rat running on local roads which just aren't suitable for through traffic. Buses get caught in the congestion, making the services unreliable and inefficient to operate; we can't provide a decent cycle route between Newton Abbot and Torbay; and Kingskerswell has air quality problems. The benefits of the bypass in relieving these transport problems are obvious.

"It is good to see the strong support, from both the public and key stakeholders, which has been received following the recent exhibitions, and we have listened to that, highlighted by the Aller Road Link which we had proposed to defer. I understand the potential difficulties posed by diverting local traffic, particularly buses, over a narrow bridge, and we have responded by reinstating it. It is disappointing that we have still had to suggest deferring some other elements of the junctions, in order to reduce the overall scheme cost, but I don't think that should divert us from the fact that the scheme will offer excellent value for money.

"We have already secured planning consent, held the public inquiry, and gone through the procurement of a contractor. So we need to demonstrate to government that we are poised to deliver the scheme. It will be a challenge, for both Devon and Torbay, to increase our financial contributions to the scheme, but we have to recognise the national funding position, and if our bid succeeds we will still draw down £76 million of Government Grant."