News from the Slapton Line Partnership: an update from the Inland Routes Working Group

A meeting of the SLP’s Inland Routes Working Group this week heard encouraging news of progress on the extensive programme of improvements to the back roads network while the A379 Slapton Line is out of commission.

Approval has been secured from the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Board for Phase 1 of the scheme (sections 3, 5 and 9 on the map), allowing land agents to be commissioned and negotiation for the purchase of land to commence. Essential site ecology work was completed on schedule by the end of June and additional dormice surveys are due to start in September. Detailed design work is progressing on fifty new or improved passing places in the first phase of the scheme, prioritizing connectivity between passing places, so that drivers will always be able to see the next available passing place from the one they have pulled into. Eagle-eyed residents will no doubt have noticed that traffic-counting wires have once again been installed on the main routes south to north to finesse the traffic volume calculations.

Subject to the results of the dormice survey – whose outcome unfortunately cannot be predicted – work will start in November with a view to completing by summer 2027. Survey work for Phase 2 of the scheme, which includes section 1, Port Lane to Sherford Cross, will commence in spring next year.