There is a need for improved pedestrian access from Manor Road car-park to Connaught Gardens but is a walkway that spans Peak Hill Road a bridge too far?
Surely sloping access either side of the road in conjunction with a Pelican Crossing is much more suitable and cheaper. It is not a busy road but a crossing would assist in managing the speed of traffic as well as providing the required access for pushchair and wheelchair users.
A bridge would cause too much damage to the current lay of the land and would have to take into consideration the maximum height of vehicles (such as removal lorries) that use the road. A slope with a crossing is a better idea by far.
It is ironic that only 18 people turned up at the recent meeting to launch the "Peak Hill Bridge" project -perhaps this shows the lack of support for such an idea. I really don't see how Peak Hill Road can be described as a busy road - where on earth do they get their figure of increased traffic volumes of 5% a year? I cross it every day and hardly ever have to wait for traffic to pass - after all it is a back road to Otterton - not a major route out of town!!
The Sidmouth Herald of 20th April contained a report saying that it is used by ton-up boys! Well, you can't reach 100 mph going up there for a start and the boy-racers turn off before the steps into Connaught Gardens to get into Manor Road - so don't bring them into the equation!
There is a need to assist disabled and elderly access into the gardens and a pelican crossing is the best solution - as mooted in the previous thread.
Why is the Sidmouth Millennium Walkway Group so intent on building a bridge and why have they said that they will not make any contribution to a crossing?
I see that the Town Council have refused the application for the 'Connaught Bridge' at a recent planning committee meeting - the application will now go before the district council.
Oh well - the District have refused the application now. Why don't they pursue a Pelican Crossing across that road - they could make a lovely job of flower bedding the ramps down from the car-park and a gradual ramp into the gardens.
Surely thats all that is needed.
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