'We need safer cycling - and money for cycling to be spent'
Campaigners in Exeter are calling for improvements and will stage a demo this weekend
Campaigners are staging a demo as they call for a safe roundabout at the bottom of Stoke Hill in Exeter.
Mark Allen who has lived in Pennsylvania for over ten years and negotiates the roundabout three or four times a week said: “The council has almost £90,000 towards making Exeter’s worse roundabout safer and we have nothing to show for it – when will they get on with it?”
Saturday's demo is from 1015am to 11am on Saturday near to the mobile phone mast.
Marilyn, said “Cycling is my main form of transport. I am an experienced cyclist but I approach this roundabout with dread”.
Mr Allen said: "In 2021 Devon County Council conducted a public consultation into improving the roundabout and approximately 75% of the respondents were in favour of improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities. 81% of local residents supported the proposals.
"According to Cycle streets, there were ten collisions directly on this roundabout in the last decade. The roundabout is off-putting for those wanting to walk and cycle safely. According to the DCC report many of the respondents to the survey described “concerns with the current setup due to poor visibility and excessive vehicle speeds.
"Stoke ‘Hell’ roundabout is at a junction of five busy roads in a congested residential area and despite Devon County Council (DCC) having been allocated almost £90k towards improving it, in January 2022, there has been no action for the past four years. This money comes from a Section 106 Agreement from the Exmouth Junction housing development (near Morrisons) and includes £63,750 for the E4 cycleway and £25,000 for Traffic Regulation Orders: £88,750 in total. This development will increase motor traffic in the area, increasing the need for urgent action. It also has a plan as part of the E4 cycleway stage 4 plans."
In response a spokesperson for Devon County Council said: "We’re aware of the planned protest at Stoke Hill roundabout this weekend, and we understand the concerns people have about safety there.
"We want to make this roundabout safer, and we’ve already secured Government funding. We’ve been gathering more up‑to‑date traffic data and testing different options so any changes are based on solid evidence.
"That work is ongoing, and we’ve now commissioned further design work to develop options that improve safety for everyone using the junction.
"We’ll keep talking to local people and stakeholders as the plans develop, and we’ll share updates as things progress.”