Pledge 'children's voices will be heard' as thousands call for road to be reopened to traffic
Devon County Council today agreed to consult on reversing a controversial road closure in Exeter
Last updated 9th Oct 2025
Councillors have agreed to consult on reversing a controversial road closure - near Exeter's hospital - after more than 4,000 signed petitions against it.
Opponents of the closure of Dryden Road claim it's caused knock-on traffic problems in other parts of the city and failed to dramatically increase walking and cycling levels.
The consultation will now 'aim to address local traffic concerns while still offering safe, attractive routes for people wlking and cycling'.
The changes were made permanent after a Government-funded trial between June 2020 and June 2022 to encourage active travel during and after the pandemic.
The traffic order stopped vehicles through the section of Dryden Road between Well Oak Park and Kipling Drive 'to create a safer and improved environment to encourage cycling for all ages and abilities along the 4km E9 strategic cycle route in Exeter' connecting the city centre, county hall, hospital, Pynes Hill and Sowton'.
Figures show around 18 per cent more cyclists are now using the route. In June more than 1,000 people signed a formal petition calling for the road to be reopened to traffic whilst a similar number signed one opposing the change - and thousands more have signed petitions online.
One resident, who supported the reopening of the road, questioned the lack of evidence 'showing active travel has really increased' - and claimed anti-social behaviour involving young people has risen and told the meeting parcels were being stolen from outside homes with the area now "too quiet."
Council leader Julian Brazil called for 'children's voice to be heard' in any final decision, saying schools needed to be fully consulted and involved.
A supporter of the scheme said a survey of the nearby Wynstream Primary School showed 132 pupils now walk, 41 bike or scoot, 64 are driven and four catch a bus - saying the scheme has increased active travel, adding: "If not now, when will schemes to promote active travel occur?"
Each year there's a 'kiddical mass' campaign cycle ride calling for safer cycling routes in Exeter
An opponent claimed reopening the road to traffic - with an improved shared use path and other facilities - could cost £6,000 and would be 'good value'.
Others described a 'new rat run around the hospital' from traffic being displaced and creating a 'more dangerous problem' elsewhere.
One taxi driver claimed just 19 cyclists an hour use the route and her customers endured 'longer journeys and increased costs'.
Another opponent of the closure said she would watch 'ambulances now stuck in traffic' as she revealed staff can be late for work as a result of increased traffic elsewhere.
An official council report found traffic flows on Dryden Road (between Barrack Road and the Wonford House junction) have decreased by 4,336 each day - and risen by three vehicles a minute on the section of Bovemoors Lane between Carlile Road and Church Street during the morning rush hour.
Accident figures show 'slight injuries' have almost halved, down from 13 in 2015-20 to six in 2020-24. There were no fatalities over the two time periods and two cyclists and five pedestrians were involved in more serious collisions between 2015-2020, whilst three cyclists and three pedestrians were seriously injured between 2020-2024.
City Councillor Peter Holland said he worried the county council have 'alienated' a section of the community' as a 'problem may be addressed in one area but manifests in another' adding 'poor air quality is being experienced' by those whose roads are now being used instead.
The former chair of a taxi forum in the city claimed most of the 600 Exeter cabs run on fossil-fuels which creates 73,000 miles-a-year in additional miles, even if just a fraction of the cabs have to take alternative routes.
Exeter City Councillor Lucy Haigh, who campaigned against the previous low traffic neighborhood scheme in the city, cited a 2015 case where it was ruled the county council failed to consider 'wider impacts' in a scheme for Totnes and criticised 'large centralised decision making' which she claimed often misses the real impacts on individuals.
Ahead of the meeting the South Western Ambulance Service said: "With regard to the Dryden Road scheme, priority is to ensure that emergency vehicle access to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is not compromised. Ask that emergency service access is fully considered as part of this review, and that the needs of ambulance crews and patients are appropriately balanced with wider transport and environmental objectives."
The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital said: "Do not support the current scheme but do not want to see complete removal. Supportive of a solution which allows some vehicles to pass such as emergency/bus access only or a one-way arrangement."
The Wonford House NHS Trust said: "Bollards have split the Mental Health site and significantly increase travel distance from one area to another for patients, visitors and staff who need to travel by vehicle. Patient transfer is a particular issue/risk and concern to the Trust. Alternative schemes put forward in past to avoid splitting the site. Prefer a complete removal."
During the meeting there was criticism about the lack of data showing the use of the road - and surrounding roads by both vehicles and cyclists - which made it harder to understand the closure's impact.
The meeting was told it was not clear 'how much a consultation would cost' but could be expected to take up '500 officer hours' and was likely to take resource away from other schemes - as it's not currently in the planned 'programme of delivery'.
It's likely the formal consultation would start in January or February, with a decision possible on April 28. The meeting was told Active Travel England money could be requested to help support the process and prevent other projects being delayed.