The document discusses proposals for a new road, the South Devon Link Road, to bypass the congested A380 between Newton Abbot and Torquay in order to alleviate traffic problems. It outlines the history of the project, the issues with the current road including congestion, safety, noise and air pollution. It then details the proposed new road and the benefits it would provide such as improved traffic flow, safety, environment, public transport, quality of life and economic growth. It also addresses some concerns about the project's impacts and costs.

1. Introduction
The A380 between Penn Inn, Newton Abbot and Kerswell
Gardens, Torquay is one of the most choked up and heavily
used roads in the region, carrying over 35,000 vehicles a day.
Devon County Council and Torbay Council are working together
on proposals to improve the link with a new road.
Running to the west of the existing A380 and bypassing
Kingskerswell, the South Devon Link Road will provide a safer,
less congested and faster route for through traffic, with the
existing road remaining to provide a quieter route for local
traffic, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
It will provide a host of other environmental and economic
benefits, too. These are outlined in more detail on the
following boards.

2. Background
As the main route into Torbay, the A380 has been a very
busy road for many years with local residents, workers and
holidaymakers stuck in traffic jams on a daily basis.
In 2005, planning permission was granted for the proposed
scheme and work was planned to start in 2010, but progress
was stalled as a result of the Government spending review.
The Government has allocated £630m for new transport
improvement schemes, so the South Devon Link Road has to
compete for funding alongside other schemes in a development
pool. Devon and Torbay are finalising their proposals for
submission to the Department for Transport in early September.
A decision is expected in December 2011,which will be based
on a number of factors, but will consider whether the scheme
meets carbon challenges, provides value for money, and
importantly, has public support.

3. What is the problem?
Congestion is the problem – and it’s a major one. It’s not just the
time spent in traffic jams or stationary cars, it’s also many other
issues. The congestion causes safety problems as more traffic
tries to avoid the jams, and uses unsuitable minor or back roads
creating rat runs and dangers to pedestrians, residents and
cyclists. It’s a noisy road too and as a result of 35,000 vehicles
using it each day, so close to residential areas, the air quality is
poor and a major cause for concern. Cyclists and pedestrians are
not keen to use the road because of the heavy traffic and buses
are frequently delayed by the unpredictable nature of the road.
There are other related effects. As the road is so congested,
it causes a problem for businesses that can’t rely on it for their
workforce, appointments or suppliers. That causes businesses
to relocate, taking jobs – and so it affects the local and wider
economy. As jobs become more scarce, more people move,
taking up opportunities to train and work elsewhere, creating
a skills shortage, and leaving lower paid jobs behind.
Congestion is at the heart of this problem and it isn’t a new
situation. It has to be addressed for Torbay to be able to grow
and bring in the new people, skills and supplies it needs to thrive.

4. What’s the problem? (continued)
The problem has been ongoing for many years. In 1999, a study
was commissioned by both councils to look at all the options to
reduce the impact of vehicle travel in the area. Importantly, the
brief stated that the study should prioritise walking, cycling and
public transport, with cars as a last resort.
The study confirmed that the road was at capacity, creating
congestion and the associated problems. It also showed that it
impacts on a very wide cross section of people - local residents,
businesses, workers, tourists, children going to school or college,
suppliers, people coming to Torbay to shop or for leisure time.
There are thousands of people who are affected and could
benefit from a new, improved route.

5. What are the options?
The study went on to consider seven different options:
• Do nothing – situation stays the same
• Do minimum – small scale improvements
• Traffic Management and control systems
• Scheme to encourage use of other modes of transport,
eg bus lanes
• On-Line Highway Schemes – targeted measures on the
existing road to improve traffic flow
• Offline Highway Schemes – new developments away
from existing road
• Complementary Measures – introduction of measures
in association with other schemes
Each of these points was carefully
considered, not just as a single
option but also in conjunction with
other aspects, eg do minimum with
complementary measures. Although
no single option met every objective,
it was clear that a bypass (offline
highway scheme) represented the
best and most practical choice.
Combined with appropriate
environmental protection measures,
it offered the most benefits and would
ensure that the area could flourish
and prosper.

6. Benefits in general
The new link road will bring a host of benefits for everyone –
ranging from environmental, economic to social fronts.
The scheme is vital to improving the quality of life for the local
community, but also for the prosperity of businesses in the Bay
and further afield across the county. Businesses could rely on
the road once more, making the area more attractive to new
enterprise and investors, boosting the economy and providing
more jobs.
The key environmental gains of the scheme are:
• Improving air quality
• Reducing noise levels
• Road safety improvements
• Habitat enhancements
Other benefits that will be brought about by the transport
strategy include:
• Sustainable transport with more cycle routes
• More reliable buses
• Improved train service, with a potential new station
• Better quality of life for local residents
Economically, the main rewards are through the return on
investment into the scheme. In other words for each pound
spent on the road, there will be £9 in return, by creating the right
conditions for investment and savings in benefits. It creates the
right conditions for valuable new jobs, new business and new
opportunities that can help the economy to grow.

7. Air quality
In 1997, local authorities in the UK were tasked with carrying out
an assessment of air quality in their area. This involves measuring
air pollution and trying to predict how it will change in the next
few years, to ensure that it can comply with limits and to protect
people’s health and the environment.
Where a council finds that an area cannot achieve these limits,
it has to be declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
This area could be just one or two streets, or it could be much bigger.
A plan to improve the air quality must then be put into place.
In 2005, Teignbridge Council declared the area from Penn Inn
to Kerswell Gardens an AQMA since the amount of nitrogen
dioxide were in excess of the limits. Nitrogen dioxide is created
through the combustion process - in this case from the exhausts
of vehicles. It can contribute to breathing problems and asthma
related conditions.

8. Air quality (continued)
The plans for the scheme have looked at this issue in great detail,
and by modelling the traffic flows, it is clear that the bypass will
improve the air quality for the residents of Kingskerswell helping
to protect human health and the environment.
From the opening day, the air quality will improve. Although there
will be more vehicles, they will not be stuck in jams and the route
is generally further away from sensitive areas such as hospitals,
schools and people’s homes. This will all help to create a better,
cleaner atmosphere.
Even in the cases where the route does run closer to residential
housing, the limits will not be exceeded as is presently the case.
This is due to the distance of the road from houses ensuring
emissions disperse faster.

9. Noise
Noise from the existing A380 dominates the route for much of the day.
As heavy traffic passes it produces sound levels equivalent to a
noisy office or the edge of a construction site, at about 70 decibels.
The new road will take the traffic away from more houses, and
also have sound barriers where necessary to reduce the noise.
As a result through Kingskerswell it will be much quieter – in
fact the noise will reduce by half. It has been forecast to be 60
decibels, which due to the way sound is measured, corresponds
to 50% of the previous volume. At this level, one could have
a conversation at normal levels and still be heard, whereas
people have to shout to make themselves heard over the
current background noise.

10. Biodiversity and
protecting the landscape
The proposed road cuts through a valley and across
downland, so an extensive environmental modelling exercise
has been undertaken to inform the plans. Resulting from these
findings, work has begun to ensure that the environment,
animals and plants are not affected any more than necessary,
and in the case of some species, will benefit from the scheme.
Cirl Buntings and lesser horseshoe bats are a primary
concern. Working with Natural England, the Councils have
begun a series of projects to improve their habitat, creating
new foraging land near Eginswell, building new roosts and
helping RSPB acquiring part of Labrador Bay as a wildlife
management area.
Additional measures are planned for other species, ranging
from badger tunnels to otter fences, whilst fish will have new
spawning pools.
The net effect is to improve the environment for many of these
living things. Natural England and the Environment Agency
have approved all the measures and are satisfied they meet
their requirements.

11. Safety
Keeping our communities safe is the number one priority for the
Councils. By providing safer and more spacious facilities for road
users, cyclists and pedestrians there will be a huge improvement
in safety. This benefit is not just for the actual route, it will also
help the residents along the rat runs, used by drivers trying to
avoid the existing road.
Over the lifetime of the new road, it will prevent 22 fatalities and
196 serious road traffic injuries. It will also prevent nearly 1500
other people from being injured.
This is clearly good news in terms of preventing injury or death,
and the dreadful consequences for families and friends, and it is
also helpful to others using the road, who will not be delayed as
a result of road traffic accidents. That helps businesses
dependent on the road, which can rely on a free flow of traffic.

12. Reducing car use
The present A380 does have a cycle lane. But would you be
happy about sharing your space with 35,000 other vehicles
each day?
One of the key objectives is to persuade people out of their
cars and into alternative modes of transport, which is better
for the environment, often better for our pocket and can
be better for our health too. So getting people onto their
bikes, buses or to walk to their destination is the aim. At the
moment, this isn’t an appealing or practical option.
By reducing traffic on the rat runs – the back roads used as
cut-throughs by people trying to avoid the traffic on the A380
- pedestrians will also be safer, and it will be a much more
enjoyable and safe experience to walk.
Making the most of the space released by cutting traffic
through the village is important. There is potential to introduce
more space for pedestrians and cyclists, together with
changes in lighting and landscaping. In developing the design,
the needs and preferences of users and residents, including
such as local school children will be considered. There is also
potential for a valley walking and cycling route to connect
Torbay, Kingskerswell and Newton Abbot. This is more
complex and will take some time to develop, although some
sections could be achieved earlier.

13. Travel by bus and coach
The service 12 bus route between Torbay and Newton Abbot is
one of the busiest in the South West. Currently there are about
1600 return trips between Newton Abbot and Torquay and many
more on the service as a whole. This runs about every ten minutes.
Unfortunately, it’s not a particularly reliable service in terms of time as
it is frequently held up in traffic. Around half of the time the buses are
late because of congestion. Elsewhere the figure is more like 10%.
This is one of the factors behind the Megabus service – a coach
service to London - being withdrawn.
The South Devon Link Road’s reduction of congestion through
Kingskerswell is only one of a number of planned or proposed
improvements to bus services along the corridor including the
introduction of smartcards, real time information on service
reliability and priority measures to ensure delays are kept to a
minimum. Stagecoach will also be introducing a new fleet of
vehicles on service 12 in 2012 which will include comfortable
leather seats and wifi.
Vince Flower, MD for Shearings Hotels says: “From a customer point
of view the South Devon Link Road is needed very badly. Shearings
bring 35,000 people to Torbay each year to enjoy all that is has to
offer. 30,000 of them are accommodated in one of four hotels in
the Bay and we want them to enjoy it from start to finish. We have
significant investment in Torbay and making it succeed is vital.”

14. Trains and railways
Rail travel on the A380 corridor between Torbay and Exeter
has grown significantly in recent years, so much so that
Network Rail have proposed the doubling of the frequency of
local trains from 2016. Additional direct services to and from
London Paddington have also been recently introduced.
The line is an integral part of Devon and Torbay’s proposed
Devon Metro network in the new joint Local Transport Plan
with several new stations including Edginswell and Marsh
Barton. Improvements to existing stations such as Newton
Abbot, including access by walking and cycling, are also
proposed. Newton Abbot will be the railhead for Kingskerswell
with enhanced access by bike and bus.
Devon and Torbay will be negotiating with future train
operators and the Department of Transport to ensure that the
matching improvements in quantity and quality of trains are
delivered through the new rail franchises.
As part of the scheme, the plan is to improve transport links
overall, so Devon County Council and Torbay Council are
looking at a new station at Edginswell to serve the local and
business community. Working with Network Rail and First
Great Western, more regular trains could be introduced,
making rail a real, and inviting possibility once more.

15. Quality of life for local residents
As part of the proposals, there are a number of small projects
being introduced to support the communities affected by
construction of the new road.
A new playground is being built at Daccabridge Road in
Kingskerswell with the input of the Parish Council. In association
with this development, and bearing in mind the rest of the
community, an important new feature will also be built - flood
defence measures. There is more about this on the panel about
water management.
There will also be an area set aside for allotments at Aller
Junction, alongside the village and by the side of the railway.
These allotments will be set up in 2016 and to help ensure the
best possible start, advice will be on hand from Devon County
Council and Devon Wildlife Trust to enable people to grow their
own fruit and vegetables.

16. Water management and
reducing the risk of flooding
The outlying valley area of the A380 is prone to flooding, with
Edginswell Stream and Aller Brook close to residential areas.
Whilst this may not be a regular occurrence, modelling by the
Environment Agency shows that there is a real risk and so any
construction needs to take this into account.
The scheme proposals have therefore been designed with
these issues in mind, and as a result, limit the potential for
flooding in the future.
After careful consideration by the Environment Agency, it is
supportive of the scheme. It has stated that construction of
the road will offer significant benefits in terms of reducing the
present flood risk for residents living along the valley route of
the road.

17. Economic benefits
Torbay is not a well off area. Its wage economy is one of the
poorest in the country – it is 379th out of 380 authorities.
Sadly, one in three children in the Bay are brought up below
the official poverty line.
These stark facts show how the economy of the area is suffering
because of the poor road access, affecting employment
prospects, investment and business. The existing A380 is at
full capacity – it simply can’t take any more traffic. As a result,
growth has been just 0.08% since 1988.
The new road scheme is not a cheap option, so the Councils
needed to be sure that it was worth spending vital public funds
on the scheme. Recent economic research* has shown that
this is very much the case. For every £1 spent, it will create £9
in terms of new jobs, and saving on benefits. This rate of return
makes it one of the top schemes in the country, but proving
the difference to Torbay is vital, as there are other communities
competing for the funding.
*ERS June 2010.

18. Issues – overview
Naturally, as with any scheme of this size, there will be some
who are opposed to it. There have been consultations in
2002, 2006 and a public inquiry in 2009. During that time,
the community has been invited to make their views known.
Key issues for the scheme have been:
• whether it really is required
• impact on the landscape
• impact on the view
• construction nuisance
• land
At the time of the public inquiry there were 162
representations. These include 21 statutory objections from
land owners, occupiers or utility companies and
67 non-statutory objections from local residents,
the general public or interested parties.

19. Dealing with concerns
The case for the new road is clear. Research has shown it
will transform the economy and communities of the Bay.
More information can be found on our website.
The landscape is sensitive, but with the help of Natural
England, we have been able to adapt and even enhance the
habitat for many species of birds, animals and plants.
In terms of the appearance of the scheme, there are many
cuttings and plantings proposed that will screen the road from
the majority of people. More information is shown on our maps.
Construction nuisance is a real issue, but we are confident
that our contractors will work to ensure as little disruption
and as few problems as possible. We have undertaken other
similar schemes and whilst there may be some inconvenience
in the short term, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages
in the long term.
Only 79 objections are still registered, whilst the inquiry noted
that 74 people had written letters of support. Since then, many
more people have expressed their backing for the scheme.

20. Business – not as usual
It’s a fact of life that most businesses are finding it hard at
the moment, but it is particularly hard for businesses in Torbay.
Recently, Beverage Brands, makers of WKD, indicated they
are being forced to move because of the lack of a decent road.
This will result in another 30 jobs being lost in the area.
Business organisations across Torbay are backing
the proposals.
Alan Archer, Chair of Torbay Business Forum says:
“The South Devon Link Road is a crucial success factor in
driving the economy forward; Torbay has a lot to offer businesses,
but better access will be the final piece in the jigsaw to create
a prime destination to live, work, visit and invest in.”

21. Wider Devon Economy
With the link road bringing new jobs into being, the whole
of Devon’s economy will benefit. Around 3,300 jobs could
be created outside of Torbay as a result of the scheme.
This would generate another £97m per year for the Devon
economy, which will benefit a much wider area.
With more people in work, more tax will be generated, helping
to boost the economy. The additional jobs will create an extra
£4m in revenue.
Jeremy Filmer Bennett, Chief Executive of Devon and Cornwall
Business Council says: “The bypass will transform the economy
of Devon and bring benefits to an even wider area. Businesses
rely on proper infrastructure for their employees, their suppliers,
their products and their customers.
This road is crucial to securing the long term future of Torbay
and it’s vital that we all get behind the scheme and make sure
Government realise how important it is to our communities.”

22. Schedule
The following is a list of the key events that have occurred
over the lifetime of planning the scheme:
1951 Bypass route shown on County Development
Plan by Devon County Council
1977 Public consultation for alternative route and
route adopted
1987 Public exhibitions of detailed scheme drawings
1989 Government take on delivery of the scheme as
part of their trunk roads programme
1996 Scheme abandoned by the Government
2002 Devon County Council and Torbay Council carry
out Public Consultation for a reduced scheme
2005 Planning consent granted
2007 First bid for major scheme funding
2008 Compulsory Purchase Orders made
2009 Public Inquiry – no outcome has been published as yet
2009 Tenders invited for the construction contract
2009 Government Spending Review –
all transport schemes suspended
2010 Scheme is placed in the development pool for
consideration with 45 other schemes