Change of plan for 12-hour bus lane on main road

Councillors had planned to make the bus lane through Heavitree operational for 12 hours a day

Plans to introduce a 12-hour bus lane on one of the main roads into Exeter have been reviewed in the face of opposition.

Councillors had planned to make the bus lane on Fore Street in Heavitree operational for 12 hours with cameras monitoring any infringements.

Some businesses in the area said it would be impossible to continue trading if people could not make deliveries or collections through the day.

The Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) has now come up with new proposals for the bus lane to operate from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, on Monday to Saturday.

Lyn Burgoyne runs an estate agency on Fore Street and said businesses would be forced to close if a 12-hour bus lane was introduced

Many of the restaurants, shops and other businesses along Fore Street have posters in their windows saying 'Save Our Shops' as part of a campaign against the 12-hour bus lane.

Lyn Burgoyne, owner of Burgoyne's Estate Agents, said: "A 12-hour bus lane would absolutely kill the traders in Heavitree and I really don't think there'd be many of us left.

"Unfortunately it would mean there'd be no loading, no stopping, no ability for people to drop off their laundry at the laundrette, no ability for Securicor to pick up money from the Post Office until after seven o'clock at night."

Ms Burgoyne said she and other traders were looking at the latest revised proposals.

Lorna Devenish, from Exeter Streets for People, wants to see a 12-hour bus lane introduced

Campaigners who supported the plans for a 12-hour bus lane said the revised proposal for a bus lane only in the morning and early evening would have "limited benefits as it does not focus on the hours of the day at which buses are slowest".

She said: "Looking at the data leads directly to the conclusion that the bus lane must be enforced for 12 hours a day to make a real impact on bus journey times, reliability, and encouraging people to switch from cars to buses."

Ms Devenish said she wanted councillors to consider options such as a 12-hour bus lane with exemptions for deliveries, and offering 30 minutes of free parking in a nearby council-run car park.

She said: "This would make bus travel a more attractive option whilst continuing to support our shops and local services."

The restrictions currently in place in Fore Street only restrict loading from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 18:30.

The committee, which is made up of councillors from Devon County Council and Exeter City Council, will meet on Tuesday to make a final decision on the plans.