Bollards finally removed as Exeter LTN scrapped

Road restrictions enforcing Exeter's low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme have been dismantled, a month after the trial was scrapped. Bollards have been removed and plants have been taken out of bus gates but restrictions will remain in place for the next few weeks.

Last week, Devon County Council confirmed that traffic filters in Hamlin Lane and Vaughan Road and the bus gate on Whipton Lane would be removed on July 1. The remaining restrictions in Ladysmith Road/Park Road and St Marks Avenue will not be removed until after the school summer term ends.

The scheme, officially called the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets Trial, was first introduced in August 2023 and was due to run for 18 months, with a consultation period running until May 2024.

The consultation period concluded with a meeting on June 3, during which it was recommended that the trial be suspended 'as soon as is practicable'. A report said the scheme had significantly negatively impacted the lives of disabled people, those with health issues and pupils and a local special school. During the meeting, it was decided that some parts of the scheme would be suspended immediately.

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Of nearly 9,000 responses to the consultation up to May 8, 81 per cent were opposed to the scheme, with 19 per cent showing their support.

Since August, the trial has been subject to heated debate in the local community. Some have said that the scheme achieved its aims of safer, quieter streets and campaigned for police and Devon County Council to crack down on rulebreakers. Meanwhile, others carried out regular protests, displaying 'Stop the Block' placards and signed petitions to have the trial scrapped.

Photos taken today (July 2) show that the bollard on Vaughan Road has now been removed. Plants have also been taken out of the planters at the filter, as well as at the bus gate on Whipton Lane.

Devon County Council says that an independent road safety audit, a site meeting with County Councillors and highways officers, and further investigation of options were all undertaken before contractors could remove the equipment. HATOC officers had also been investigating whether planters could remain in place to act as traffic calming.

The safety audit highlighted concerns, included a potential risk to cyclists passing on the kerbside of the planters before merging back with traffic and give way markings obstructing side road access and driveways. It was also found that the planters would offer minimal traffic calming benefits, due to the narrowing effects of parked cars and proximity to a roundabout.