Cedars Roundabout Survey Summary
I sent a survey to residents in Roundswell and Bickington to share their views on how the Cedars Roundabout Roadworks has impacted their journey times. Residents were asked how often they use the B3233, how often congestion impacted on their journey times both before and after the roadworks began, and offered the opportunity to share their views on how current issues might be overcome.
Among the 714 respondents, a large majority (601, or 84%) either used the B3233 every day or most days.
When asked how often congestion impacted their journey time before the roadworks started, among the 711 who answered, the greatest majority (354, just shy of 50%) selected ‘every now and then’, with only 135 (19%) experiencing impactful congestion every day. However, when asked how often congestion impacted on journey times since the roadworks started, the greatest majority (386, 54%) experienced impactful congestion every day, with the least number of people claiming to only experience congestion every now and then. This indicates a significant increase in the number of people experiencing congestion on a regular basis after the roadworks started, compared to before. This was, of course not unexpected.
To understand this better, the data was split into just those respondents who claim to use the B3233 every day. Among these 332 respondents, 109 (33%) experienced congestion every day before the roadworks began. Among this same group of people, a significant increase to 268 (81% of the 322) claim to have experienced congestion every day after the roadworks began. The number of people who experienced congestion after the road works compared to before has more than doubled, from 109 to 268, an increase of over 100%. Given that anecdotally many people are leaving for work hours early, trying to change their working patterns or shifts, it would be an understatement to say these particular set of road works have significantly impacted journey times and peoples travel plans.
Unfortunately, when asked if they think the proposed measures will make much difference, the greatest majority (324 out of the 701 who answered the question, or 46%) said ‘no’. The second highest majority (176, or 25%) said ‘hopefully, but the money could have been spent better’.
For question 7, the survey claimed that ‘Developers provide funding (S106) for infrastructure, in Cedars case over £800,000. Some changes would not cost vast amounts of money. Some of the ideas below have been suggested, would you like these possibilities to be looked into?’. The ideas offered included a) stopping cars parking on the main road in Bickington, b) stopping cars parking on the main road in Sticklepath, c) opening up the Old Torrington Road Bus gate to help traffic flow away from Cedars, d) more work at Wrey Arms roundabout as that is where the problem is and e) permanent traffic lights at Cedar. Of the 553 who answered this question, the greatest majority (239, 43%) voted for ‘opening up the Old Torrington Road bus gate to help traffic flow away from Cedars’. This is interesting considering that, as of February 2024, there has been an online petition on change.org from residents to Devon County Council hoping to suspend the Old Torrington Road Bus Gate, until such time as the link road and other additional roadworks, including Cedars, have been completed. This was a North Devon Council project driven by Liberal Democrat Councillors, but abandoning the project is most favourable among respondents in order to alleviate some of the issues surrounding the Cedars roadworks.
Finally, respondents were asked to offer their opinion on the idea of a new road from the B3233 to the A39, in between Bickington and Fremington. Among those who answered this question (167), the greatest majority (71, 43%) agree with this decision, though the second highest number of respondents (46, 28%) disagree. Many clearly were not sure and I completely understand as it would be hard to support something without know the where, how much and what it would mean. What I do feel is needed, is a long term strategy for transport in and around Barnstaple and whilst I welcome many of the proposed schemes for increased cycling paths, new bus lanes or even the new lights at cedars, they do not, in my mind add up to a solution or even the start of a strategy.
