Exeter bus service suspended over parked car crisis

Anita Merritt
·4-min read


A bus service has been temporarily suspended along a busy Exeter road due to parked cars prohibiting wide enough access. Residents living on Stoke Valley Road in Stoke Hill, and surrounding roads, have told how they have been battling for the past five years for parking issues to be resolved.

Yesterday, May 14, Stagecoach announced that due to 'badly parked cars' it had stopped its P service in Stoke Valley Road and Collins Road and would reassess the situation.

Today it has confirmed buses are still unable to access the route. Instead, passengers are being directed to board the P service in Rosebarn Lane.

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The affected roads currently do not have any parking restrictions. Residents claim the area has become popular with students parking there for long periods of time, as well as commuters, and cars parked on both sides of Stoke Valley Road are causing an obstruction.

Residents have reported that 'numerous' buses have been seen this week having to reverse into Florida Drive to turn around and find an alternative route. A bus performing the manoeuvre yesterday, May 14, is said to have caused damage to the corner of Florida Drive.

A bus having to reverse into Florida Drive
A bus having to reverse into Florida Drive -Credit:Submitted

Concerns have also been raised over whether the parked cars would prevent access by fire engines and refuse collection vehicles. Continued calls are being made by local residents for parking restrictions to be put in place by Devon County Council.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "The P service has recently experienced some disruption due to the parking on Stoke Valley Road resulting in our vehicles being unable to get through. We have reported the issue with the relevant authorities and have been updating our customers via X.

"We will continue to speak with the authorities to seek a resolution. In the meantime, the closest stop will be Rosebarn Lane.”

A resident in Florida Drive, who asked not to be named, said: "It's a long-running saga that has been going on for five years and we believe it's down to students parking on both sides of the road because there are no parking restrictions and buses are having to turn around.

"I counted 43 vehicles on one side of the road the other day and now they are parking on the other side of the road and it's only going to get worse, especially as emergency vehicles won't get through.

"The drivers of these vehicles are not concerned about anyone else. It's causing residents sheer frustration because it has been going on for so long."

Parked cars that have blocked the P bus service in Stoke Valley Road -Credit:Submitted
Parked cars that have blocked the P bus service in Stoke Valley Road -Credit:Submitted

A local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, added: "Yesterday [May 14] Stagecoach assessed the area and said they would be advising the P bus does not drive down or attempt to drive down the road. On the corner of Florida Drive you can see damage a bus caused as it turned around yesterday morning.

"As no law is being broken it appears very little can be done. This problem is caused by parking, mainly by students. They will not be back to collect their cars for weeks, leaving us restricted."

The University of Exeter has confirmed a lump sum, believed to be £20,000, to fund parking changes in and around Stoke Valley Road as part of planning permission conditions imposed by Exeter City Council in 2019 for new student accommodation in Rennes Drive called East Park, was paid to Devon County Council some time ago.

Parked cars that have blocked the P bus service in Stoke Valley Road -Credit:Submitted
Parked cars that have blocked the P bus service in Stoke Valley Road -Credit:Submitted

A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: "The university greatly values its relationship with our neighbours and local community. We understand the constraints on parking locally and encourage staff and students to use sustainable and public transport wherever possible.

"Parking is also available on campus for those who are eligible for a permit. We do regularly remind campus users of available on-site parking facilities, information about public transport networks, and our responsibilities to the local community.

"We would encourage anyone who encounters an Obstruction of the Highway or Parking in a Dangerous Location to contact the police via 101."

Devon County Council has been approached by a comment.

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