Village Meeting Minutes concerning the new proposed Devonshire Inn junction
Held in The Jubilee Hall, Yarcombe, Monday 19TH September 2016 at 8.00 pm
In Attendance: Cllrs L Pidgeon, Chair, M Tomkinson, C Stone, A Long, S-J Martin (Clerk),
Members of the Public present 45
Cllr Lesley Pigeon welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised that having been fortunate to attend the Public Consultation at Upottery, established that the proposed new Devonshire Inn junction is a matter of concern.
Cllr Pidgeon produced several photos of the junction which clearly showed a potential hazard of traffic wishing to turn right to Chard, backing up onto the road due to their way being blocked by traffic turning right from Chard to London. Any large vehicles could potentially block the junction and oncoming faster traffic could be a hazard.
As no-one from Devon County Council was in attendance, the Councillors present were unable to reply directly to questions. Questions raised and concerns about the proposed new junction layout were as follows:
- Who will have right of Way? – the room suggested oncoming traffic and not traffic turning right.
- George Pidgeon suggested the photos shown varied from the photo on the plan.
- Could a roundabout be suggested? – Cllr Long proposed not as roundabouts are not permitted along the A303.
- Mr Tysaak suggested a layout that would allow for traffic wanting to turn right. To follow the underpass to
Upottery then have a slip road back onto the A30/303 East.
- Elaine had previously received a direct response from DCC at a presentation that “they were not interested in
The traffic that wanted to turn right to London. Elaine also stressed that there would only be 2 entrances onto the A30/303, being the Devonshire Inn junction and Honiton. The junction at Stopgate and the end of the seven mile straight would have no access onto the road.
- George Pidgeon raised the issue of there being a high pressure gas feed within 150 meters of the Upottery
junction which evidently an issue of concern for them, as too are 2 farmers, both with land on wither sides of
the proposed works at this junction.
- Will the junction be lit by street lights? – George Pidgeon suggests not due to the junction being with the
AONB.
- George stated the junction historically has been the 47th worst for accidents in the Country and the worst
junction along the A303.
- Cllr Tomkinson stated that we should not be penalised for being within the AONB by not having an improved safer junction and suggested the Yarcombe Parish Council put together an official response. Additionally, that Yarcombe will suffer with more traffic and especially heavy goods vehicles would be coming up from Chard, over the single track bridge and through the village, due to no access from the 7 mile straight.
- Cllr Stone emphasised that the junction is purely being moved further East and isn’t being improved safety wise, just replicated.
- It was asked whether after the Consultation and all responses are reviewed, whether there will be a further consultation. Cllr Pidgeon responded that we would put this suggestion to Cllr Andrew Moulding.
- Merve Edgecombe stressed this will become a major junction and we need weight to push our thoughts through. Cllr Tomkinson responded that The Yarcombe Parish Council will also formulate a response and details of this meeting with photos will be published in the Voices.
- Cllr Stone emphasised that after the meeting at Cotleigh, everyone is being urged to object about the whole road improvement, not just the Devonshire Inn junction.
- Brian Smith understands the DCC are aware there is a problem and that the Devonshire Inn junction needs to
be re-designed.
- Cllr Tomkinson suggests the Police Commissioner is made aware for their thoughts on the safety of the proposed layout.
- Miranda suggests we all contact our local MP and voice our concerns.
- Cllr Pidgeon and Tony Long both urge everyone to put their thoughts either on paper on the Public Consultation Questionnaire or online through www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay