PL:21 Transition Initiative secures funds for improved junction in Ivybridge

PL:21 Transition Initiative is delighted to announce that it has secured funds of £23,957 for a design study to make the roundabout at the end of Western Road at the junction with the A38 safe for walking, wheeling, and cycling. The project will comprise a new section of traffic free path starting at Cornwood Road, a parallel crossing over Cleeve Drive, a traffic free path alongside Western Road to the junction with St Johns Road and adapting the traffic lights to enable pedestrians and cyclists to turn right into Bowden Park. It will include a technical note, traffic modelling, stakeholder liaison, outline design and business case (include cost estimate).

The study will be carried out by national charity, Sustrans and funding with thanks has been awarded by the following:

• South Hams District Council: Community Resilient Grant
• Devon Community Foundation Grant, being funded from its Mumme Ackford Revenue, Devonian, and Simon Hallett funds,
• S106 funding from planning application land at Torhill Farm, Ivybridge in relation to improving air quality. 

Sustrans will carry out initial designs and attempt to agree a solution with DCC and National Highways. Assuming successful, SHDC will be able to apply to the Government for a capital grant for this much needed project. The finished project will enable pedestrians, parents with children, disabled people, and cyclists to travel safely over this junction.

It was in 2013 that the girl guides publicised their concerns about how safe is it to walk to school? Their article was published in February 2013 edition of The Ivybridge Magazine saying that lots of students live in the Woodland area and want to walk to school because it is healthier, causes less pollution but instead travel by car because there are no suitable places to cross the road, especially at Western Road.

Since then, there have been three public consultations as well as two reports by Sustrans, all saying that how dangerous this junction is, but, up to now, there have been no funds available. The benefits of walking, wheeling, and cycling for short journeys are advocated by the NHS to improve people’s health and, when considering climate change, the carbon footprint is almost zero compared with all other forms of travel.

For those who prefer to walk, wheel or cycle like the girl guides in 2013, PL:21 is confident that local residents and visitors alike will feel the benefits with healthier lifestyles, less traffic congestion, and simply feeling safe. The girl guides who are now young adults also sensed the importance of our climate emergency.

For more information about this project, please visit PL:21 Transition.

By Graham Wilson, Trustee, PL:21 Transition Initiative