We are the Topsham 20 Campaign – a group campaigning for safer roads in our town. We believe the way some vehicles drive through Topsham poses a significant and real danger. Too many drive aggressively and far faster than 20mph speed limit. It is not safe or pleasant to walk along many of our busiest streets as traffic speeds past. They not designed for the volume or speed of traffic. It is hard f
or us to get about safely by bike and some streets are dangerous for pedestrians. When the railway barriers are down and at rush hour, traffic queues through the whole of Topsham, with attendant noise and pollution. Meanwhile, cars rat-run down Clyst Road and Denver Road, often at high speed - some passing the wrong side of the traffic islands. In brief, our roads are too dangerous. Nor is the issue just about safety: speeding traffic creates far more noise and nuisance. Doctors recognise the impact of vehicular pollution on our health. It doesn’t have to be like this. We welcome visitors to our lovely town and our wonderful shops, but through-traffic should stay on the main road instead of using Topsham’s C roads as a short-cut. Drivers must be encouraged to comply with the 20mph limit. There are many ways to achieve these aims – we support any sensible methods so long as they are effective. And achieve them we must. It is even more pressing as more people walk, run and cycle on our roads due to the Pandemic. More, as the Topsham Gap is filled and extra housing goes up in the surrounding area, the traffic issues will get worse. Many residents have asked Devon County Council to take action, but measures have been piecemeal and largely ineffective. We need Devon County Council and the Police to recognise that there is a major issue and, in consultation with residents and business, put together a coherent package of measures to solve the issues for the benefit of us all. We cannot wait for residents or visitors to be seriously injured before action is taken. Prevention is better than cure.
