Controversial bypass plan submitted

10 January 2008

A bid for a proposed bypass in south Devon has been submitted to the Department for Transport, more than 50 years after it was first planned.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council submitted the Major Scheme Bid for the South Devon link road – Kingskerswell bypass – at a revised cost of around £129.9M. The scheme, first proposed in 1951, was given planning permission two years ago, and was recognised as a priority by the regional assembly.

The assembly’s transport board confirmed its continued support for the scheme, at the revised cost, at its meeting in November. Linking Torbay to Newton Abbott, the scheme is designed to reduce congestion in the area and improve air quality and road safety on the A380, between Penn Inn and Kerswell Gardens.

Cllr Margaret Rogers, Devon’s executive member for environment, said: ‘The submission of this bid is an important milestone and, hopefully, we will be successful in gaining the necessary funding from central government. We have seen the estimated costs increase, but it is funding that will bring investment into the south Devon economy.’

A major factor in the increase in estimated costs has been a 26% rise in construction price inflation over the last two years. Devon County Council and Torbay Council would meet 10% of the costs.

But Kingskerswell Alliance chairman, Ken Pegden, said: ‘One has to ask why the authorities chose to put out a press release on Christmas Eve? ‘Maybe it’s because they still try to claim the scheme will improve air quality when, in fact, their own reports conclude a massive increase in local CO₂ emissions and an overall reduction in air quality. Over coming weeks we will be looking to see if their numbers add up, and are in the process of submitting our own report on a package of alternative measures.’

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