Paris St roundabout dangerous crossings: update

You are not happy with the roundabout

You and many other people - from across the city, but especially Heavitreem Newtown and St Leonards, responded to our call out to share experiences of walking or cycling to access St Sidwell's Point, the bus station or Vue Cinema, on foot or by bike. Your responses tell a clear and worrying story:

• Parents don't feel it is safe to let older children walk or cycle because of the roundabout
• People who are fit and well, let alone people with limited mobility feel that they 'take their life in their hands' when they use the crossings
• To use the safe, light-controlled crossings means walking a considerable extra distance which is off-putting for many and encourages people to cross in places which are not proper crossings at all
• Cyclists- even experienced ones - avoid using the roundabout as it feels too dangerous

Exeter City Council deny that there is a problem

Whilst the Council admit that the roundabout bears heavy traffic, the response we have had is that the crossings are just fine and that if there is any risk, we need to prove it. This response is both disappointing and shows how far the Council still is from following through on the promises to take walking and cycling seriously. Exeter Greens will continue to campaign for Exeter and Devon Councils to acknowledge the problem and work together on solutions. We believe that there are some quite simple and cheap solutions that would improve things in the short term, whilst bigger changes are planned for the long term

'Pics and chat' walk around the roundabout Sat April 22nd

We are going to meet up with some of the people who find the roundabout most difficult - people with buggies, small children, older kids, people with limited mobility or in wheelchairs and people pushing bikes (because cycling around the roundabout is too dangerous). Do join us - we will be taking pictures as we walk the crossings and do short interviews with people to capture their experiences. Meet 2.30pm outside Exeter Civic Centre, Paris St entrance.

Thank you and hope to see some of you on Saturday April 22nd

Dr Andy Ketchin

Green Party candidate for Newtown & St Leonards

Exeter City Council elections, May 4th 2023