‘Vital Station Road should be widened’, says councillor
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One of Sidmouth’s ‘vital artery’ roads will need to be widened if Knowle is sold to a housing developer, a civic leader has argued.
Town councillor David Addis asked if East Devon District Council (EDDC) could place a condition on the sale of its HQ to ease the impact on Station Road.
Fears have been raised that more residents will mean more traffic, but district bosses have questioned if that would be the case.
Speaking at last week’s town council meeting, Councillor Addis said: “If EDDC is successful in obtaining a purchaser for Knowle can it add a requirement to widen Station Road? It’s a vital artery but that pinch point holds traffic up considerably.”
Knowle is currently being marketed as EDDC looks to finance its relocation, expected to be to SkyPark, and its current HQ’s redevelopment looks likely.
District councillor Frances Newth said: “This summer [Station Road] has been horrendous – it’s enough to put some tourists off in the busy months.
“I would like to see something done there, especially if the redevelopment involves any more housing.”
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An EDDC spokesman said: “If and when a developer comes forward with a proposal for Knowle, one of the considerations would be the pressure – additional or otherwise – that the proposed development would have on the highway.”
He added it was unclear if a housing estate would mean more traffic than the regular movements of EDDC staff, councillors and customers – but highways bosses made no call to widen the road when plans for 50 homes and a 60-bed care home at the site were submitted in 2012.
