Anger over plan to close Torbay road for four months

Developers want to close the road from 3 January until mid-May

Residents in Torbay have expressed anger over plans to close the main road in and out of Brixham for four months.

Torbay Council said it received a request from Persimmon Homes to close Brixham Road from January 2023.

The company said the closure was necessary to build homes, a primary school and a pub as part of the Inglewood development.

A consultation over the proposals ends this week.

Head teacher Katy Burns said pupils were facing disruption to their education because of the proposals

The developers plan to close Brixham Road on 3 January until 12 May, with plans to open the road for two weeks during the Easter holidays.

The planned diversion will be along Goodrington Road and Dartmouth Road.

More than 1,000 people have responded to the consultation with many concerned there will be traffic gridlock.

One resident wrote in the comments section: "I feel that this closure will shut us down and may be the nail in the coffin for many businesses."

Another added: "This has all the makings of a financial disaster for Brixham."

Fish exporter Ian Perkes said that trucks having to take different and smaller roads means "there will be accidents".

He said: "We've had it on the main route with trucks getting stuck [before the planned diversions]... we had an episode where the doors blew open and all the fish came down on the road."

The road closure "may be the nail in the coffin for many businesses", one resident said

Critics have also raised concerns about disruption to existing schools.

Katy Burns, head teacher of Galmpton Church of England Primary School, said: "My greatest concern is that our pupils and students have all had significant disruption to their education over the last couple of years and they will be facing yet more disruptions."

The council said it was currently in discussions with the developer to find the best solution for residents and businesses and to agree how the works could be carried out with the least amount of disruption possible.

The Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing said it could not comment on the specific case, but, in a statement, said decisions about homes should be driven locally.

"Our Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will put power back in the hands of communities and local leaders, simplify the planning system and end outdated practices that slow down regeneration. We will set out more detail in due course."

Fish exporter Ian Perkes said he was concerned that larger vehicles using the smaller diversion routes increases the chance of accidents

Persimmon Homes said: "Local authorities instructed us to deliver significant upgrades to Brixham Road and nearby junctions as part of the development."

It added: "We recognise and apologise for the disruption and inconvenience this closure will cause.

"We are already doing everything we can to make sure when these works start they are completed as soon as possible."