Traffic and access to Totnes

Devon County Council has convened a steering committee to advise on traffic improvements in Totnes and its hinterland. This initiative is called Totnes on the Move. Bus, cycle and pedestrian routes are included in the discussion, as well as the everlasting topics of congestion and parking. There is nearly 5 million pounds of funding available for transport improvements in the Exeter, Newton Abbot and Totnes areas, so this steering group has the opportunity to achieve more than talk and reports.

Tim Padfield is the representative for the Totnes rural parishes on this committee. Send him your proposals for improvements to local transport or write your suggestions below. The Totnes-on-the-Move group meets fortnightly.

Address to the Parish Cluster Meeting, November 23 2011

Write your suggestions here. Give your name - anonymous entries may be deleted.

from tim padfield, Friday, 7 October 2011

Transport nodes in the South Hams

The map below is an exploration of the possibility to make traffic nodes where people can transfer from walking, cycling, golf buggy, frying-oil-powered rickshaw or car, to the main bus routes, which we expect to provide an hourly service during daytime and at least one evening run. Each node will have a parking lot, a secure cycle rack and an electric charging point. It will also have a bus shelter with indication of the place, the expected time of arrival of the next bus as well as the scheduled time - just like the railways already do. A striking aspect of this correctly scaled map is the long trek to a bus route from the Dart riverbank communities. A year round water bus service looks feasible, but needs some dredging for spring tide reliability.

From Tim Padfield, 11 Aug.

Walking and cycle routes

I suggest three improvements to make safe walking and cycle routes into Totnes and to neighbouring communities from Harbertonford.

1. a path along the east side of the A381 from Brockhills farm to the junction with the road to Harberton (about 100 metres). This verge is already owned by the highway.

2. A path bypassing the canyon of the A381 south of Harbertonford bridge, between Kiln lane and the unmade road leading towards Washbourne just beyond the old chapel. This route needs negotiation with landowners on the east side of the road. About 100 m.

3. widening the path by the Old Toll House on the A381 Totnes western bypass to allow safe passage to bicycles. This involves merging the two uphill traffic lanes earlier, but requires no acquisition of land. About 150 m.

A map of local cycle routes is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M45MQ_ePTDehTYhoG_OnbMUshc6hx62ostCzfv23nzs/edit?pli=1

And I propose one preservative statement:

4. Protect Old Road between Maryland and the school to ensure that the proposed housing development does not have a motor traffic entrance on Old Road. Old road provides a quiet route to Totnes parallel to the A381 and motor traffic should not be permitted to increase.

Buses

5. Some simple changes will make the bus system understandable to tourists: put just one 'Bus Stop' sign on the poles instead of the present two signs. Ensure that both X81 and 164 timetables are posted at both bus stops. Ensure that the sign on the northbound stop has only Totnes as a destination, not Dartmouth and Kingsbridge as at present. We need an inspector of signage to make our regional services understandable to tourists (and to us).

6. Late evening bus from Totnes every evening.

7. Sunday buses to Dartmouth.

8. Good connection at Totnes with buses to Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay hospital, Paignton, Torquay, Buckfastleigh and Ashburton.

9. Tickets valid with all bus companies and train companies.

Water transport

10. A pontoon for mooring dinghies, canoes and kayaks close to Totnes centre, somewhere near Vire Island or maybe incorporated in the Baltic Wharf redevelopment.

20. Examine the potential for a scheduled year-round water bus: Dartmouth - Dittisham - Greenway - (Galmpton) - Stoke Gabriel - (Tuckenhay) - Sharpham - Totnes - Dartington estate. This would mean some dredging and jetty construction but would be a revitalising of an ancient traffic route. The Stoke Gabriel to Sharpham section would allow a bike and walking route from Totnes to Torbay.