Update 2022

Over the past 18 months residents have expressed fresh concerns about speeding traffic, inconsiderate parking for other road users and pedestrians, and other traffic related issues around town.
In response to this Town Councillors have been compiling a list of issues and a meeting took place with Devon County Council Highways in July 2022.
The outcome of the meeting was a request by the Highways Officer to create a priority list to focus an action plan in which these issues can be addressed where possible.
Below is the creation of our priority list and we look forward to further discussion with Devon Highways.
Hatherleigh Traffic Plan Priority List

 

Update October 2017

Following our submission to Devon County Council of our map listing the traffic and parking issues we were given the opportunity to have a small quantity of items included in their current round of Traffic Orders 2017. We took advantage of this rather than wait for all our issues to be addressed at once. Last chance consultation posters have been displayed around town and the Town Council are unaware of any objections. The Orders can be viewed online at www.devon.gov.uk/trafficorderssearch.htm. We will be following up all further requests in the next round of Traffic Order’s in 2018.

Update June 2017

Car park:       West Devon Borough Council have been undertaking a review of their assets and we have been waiting some months for them to value the car park.  This has now been completed and at our June meeting we welcomed Cathy Aubertin from West Devon Borough Council to discuss possible lease and purchase options for the car park.  Resident parking permits were also considered.  Costs were more than anticipated and we are looking into our options and gathering further information.

There was an initial suggestion to the Town Council to lease the car park for a short term trial of 12 months, however the Town Council feel very strongly that any short term trial will simply not work as it is difficult to change people’s habits unless they are forced to do so.  Creating the provision of a free car park must go in hand with any parking restrictions.  Discussions on this are continuing as careful consideration is needed on this undertaking, on the terms and conditions, and to consider any unintended consequences.

Street Parking review:     We were initially told that we would be assigned a Devon County Highways Officer to work with us and assist in reviewing the parking situation and offering advice on the various options available.  This did not happen in the way as first stated.  We were instead issued with a large map on which to draw ourselves the ‘wish list’ of what the community wants to see happen, on which they will review and feedback what is or isn’t feasible.

A Town Council working group has therefore been looking at the list of requests taken from all recent community feedback events (Parking review questionnaire, Public meeting, Community Plan consultation) and putting together for submission those we think most feasible.

The list of suggestions/demands to relieve the towns parking problems are here:   List of Hatherleigh parking-traffic issues to accompany maps

This list and accompanying map will now be returned to DCC Highways for their review.  We expect they will then review and feedback what is/isn’t feasible.

We understand that residents feel strongly about the traffic and parking situation and we are doing what we can to pressure for actions to be implemented, but please be aware that we can only a REQUEST actions to the higher authorities.  We are dependent on Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council for any changes to the current situation being implemented.

 

TRAFFIC & PARKING REVIEW 2016
Hatherleigh’s traffic and parking problems have being getting steadily worse. Our historic town with its narrow streets combined with a growing number of houses and households with multiple cars. Also with the added problem like so many other places that people if given the choice will park as close as possible to where they want to be, a particular problem is the supermarket entrance with cars often parking on the pavement in the door way!

A key issue arising from consultations over Hatherleigh’s Community Plan was a call for a traffic review. Recently a Traffic/Parking Survey was distributed to all residents in town and the results highlighted particular problem areas around town and comments on how people would like to see them dealt with.

A public meeting was held as part of this review to gather any further information and to hear how residents and businesses would like the Town Council to proceed in finding solutions. The meeting had a turn out of nearly 50 people and went as expected. It was useful not only for Town Councillors to hear face to face the concerns people have but also importantly for representatives from WDBC, the Police, and our Borough (Patrick Kimber) and County (James McInnes) Councillors to hear stories of the disruptions caused.

One thing that is clear is the difficulties and differing opinions of deciding what measures would be effective, ie there is a an overwhelming call to make the car park free, but contrary comments are that the car park used to be free and wasn’t used. Introducing yellow lines is also a contentious issue. There is also the concern that any measures introduced will simply push the problem into satellite streets. The outcome of the meeting showed a need to liaise with Devon County Council traffic engineers and West Devon Borough Council in investigating the most suitable options to solve our problems, after which there will be further public engagement.
Below are the Public Meeting notes and a break down of survey responses.

 

Update August 2016

Below is the transcript of a letter to WDBC on Aug 16th expressing our concerns following the offer of a short term lease (12 months) for the car park:

Dear Cathy Aubertin (West Devon Borough Council, Operational Manager (Environment Services).

As you know Hatherleigh has been taking steps in attempting to ease the parking problems in Town. This email is to summarise the current position we are in and ask for your help and advice in seeking a way forward.

Hatherleigh undertook a large consultation phase for our Community Plan in 2013 this highlighted a number of key problem traffic bottlenecks and parking problem areas. Following on from this and as a result of an intensity of requests to act, earlier this year a resident survey and public meeting was held (which we appreciated you attending). The outcome of this was that the Town Council have requested a Traffic Review with Devon County Council with the intention and likelihood of instigating some form of parking restrictions.

One overwhelming appeal from the public has been to make the Town’s car park free. This solution is seen as an essential aspect for not only relieving the pressure from overcrowded streets but one that would receive widespread community support as it would form an alternative solution to any introduction of parking restrictions.

The Council feels very strongly that it would be unacceptable and unfair to introduce restrictions without any alternative parking arrangements, the two go hand in hand. In fact it is certain restrictions without a free car park will simply move the problems into satellite streets.

You are aware there has been some discussion on the possibility of the Town Council paying a form of rent or lease to WDBC on account that the area is not performing effectively as a car park and WDBC makes a considerable financial loss.

This brings us to the most recent correspondence in which we were disappointed to learn that WDBC appear to be backtracking and are only now offering a very short term lease of one year. We feel this is woefully lacking on your part in appreciating the task we are facing in seriously trying to resolve the Towns parking problems.

We are disheartened in how to find a way forward as we can only see a future backlash. A major concern would be that without any long-term or concrete assurance WDBC could simply ‘recall’ the car park after the Town Council had initiated parking restrictions. This would cause a return to the current situation made worse by the fact residents would be faced with parking restrictions and have to pay high costs to park their cars.

Can you please explain why you can’t offer a long-term lease? What other possible plans could you have for this area?

 Regards                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Clare Tyson                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hatherleigh Town Mayor