Local people are being asked for their views on plans to improve the reliability of bus services, reduce traffic congestion on Ashburton Road and support more environmentally sustainable travel choices by creating a bus and cycle gate between Hunterswell Road and Bradley Lane.

The plan would also see buses bypass the often congested Dyrons roundabout, speeding up travel time into the town centre.

From 1 July, residents will have the chance to comment on the plans which will see the 77, 88 and 88c bus services re-routed along Ashburton Road and Barton Drive, bus stop changes and some parking restrictions.

To ensure people understand the proposals, information will be posted from 1 July on our website and a drop-in day will be held at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre on Thursday 14 July, with presentations at 11am, 1pm and 6pm and question and answer sessions from 10am - to 2pm and from 4pm –to 8pm.  A printed leaflet setting out the plans will also be distributed.

People will be able to comment via an online survey which will be accessible from our website, by emailing gardencommunity@teignbridge.gov.uk or by writing to Bradley Lane Bus Link, Spatial Planning Team, Teignbridge District Council, Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4XX.

Teignbridge Executive member for Planning, Cllr Gary Taylor is encouraging local people to take advantage of the drop-in day by coming along and asking questions about the proposals. 

“This is an important development which will improve transport options for the many regular travellers who commute into the town centre from Highweek and from the west of Newton Abbot.” he said.

“We estimate that one in five households in this area don’t have a car so the proposals will improve public transport and cycling options for them.”

Under the consultation proposals the 77, 88 and 88c bus services would leave Ashburton Road at the junction with Barton Drive, following the route of the existing 77A and 88A services, before continuing along Barton Drive, Hunterswell Road and Bradley Lane.

To enable buses to travel along the proposed route, a new section of road would be built between Hunterswell Road and Bradley Lane, creating a new single lane bus gate.  This would accommodate one bus going in either direction at any one time and would also be suitable for cycles and pedestrians.

New bus stops are proposed at Barton Drive, on the bend outside of and opposite number 65; Hunterswell Road, to the side of number 9 and number 49; and Bradley Lane, outside of and opposite Mill Court.

But the changes will mean that some bus services will no longer stop at several locations along the Ashburton Road such as at Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, Coombeshead Academy and along the Exeter Road at Newton Abbot College. People who use these stops will continue to be served by the 77A and 88A as well as the 113, 193 and 672 services.

To enable this new bus route to be created, parking restrictions will be introduced along Barton Drive, Hunterswell Road and Bradley Lane and to prevent misuse, the bus gate will be monitored by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera with fixed penalty notices being issued to offenders.

The consultation is open for one month, closing on August 1.   Responses will help shape the proposals and provide information on the project’s next steps, and if the plans are implemented will help reduce carbon emissions in the area.