Official request made to continue Sidmouth's Pedestrianisation Scheme

An official request has been made to continue Sidmouth's Summer Social Distancing Pedestrianisation Scheme to Devon County Council's Highway Department.

The request comes after extensive research carried out separately by Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce (SCOC) and Sidmouth Town Council (STC).

The scheme was due to end on September 30, if the request is approved the pedestrianisation of the much of the town centre would continue until the end of March.

SCOC carried out a survey of 30 businesses, both members and non members, that operate within the area of the town that is covered by the programme and identified that 90% of those asked were very happy with the scheme.

The affected streets being Old Fore St., New St., Church St. up to junction with Chapel St., Market Square up to Esplanade and with regard to the footpath widening in Fore St.

SCOC's chairman, David Cook, said: "It is recognised by both SCOC and STC that the scheme, whilst good, is not perfect and during the coming few months we will work together to see if improvements can be made.

"It is hoped that the scheme can continue, regardless of whether or not social distancing is still with us. Any improvements proposed will need to be approved by Devon County Council."

On the agenda will be topics like:

- If the scheme is to become permanent we need to find a better location, than the temporary parking places that have been allocated, for taxis and Blue Badge holders to park, so they are closer and more convenient for access to the centre of town.

- That the footpath widening scheme in Fore St be made permanent and if affordable and practical widen the footpath on the western side so that the road is more in the middle rather than to one side as at present where width of road allows.

- That application be made to DCC for a speed restriction throughout the town centre from top of High St down to the seafront and along the Esplanade, to say 10mph (but could be 20mph).

- That application be made to DCC for permanent signage identifying, on the roads affected, the daily restrictions from 11.00am to 5.00pm, including the right of access, removing the need for the daily placing of the signs that are currently in place.

- To find a suitable solution as to the need to continue to provide vehicle access in the affected streets during the daily road closure restrictions from 11.00am to 5.00pm, for residents in those streets, businesses that need access to their shops to load/unload, emergency vehicles, emergency repair vehicles, taxis and necessary deliveries. In particular to try to find ways, in consultation with the businesses in the affected streets, to reduce as far as is possible the need for delivery vehicles to require access to the affected streets during the daily restriction period. i.e although delivery vehicles accessing the affected streets is already low during the daily road closure restrictions, can they be reduced further.

-To find a workable compromise to a proposal being considered that the affected roads might be closed to all vehicles from 11.00am until 5.00pm each day.