I attended a meeting today where I received news that will not be welcomed by many Wolborough residents, though in the longer term it will be a blessing for some.
Wolborough High Street, in particular the stretch generally known as “the narrows”, will be closed to traffic later this year for major road repairs. I welcome the road repairs as there can be no doubt that they are particularly needed. The road has been patched up from time to time, as it has experienced subsidence and a number of large potholes. There can be no question that the road needs significant investment, and I am pleased that is to happen.
However, the road closure will mean diversions will be put in place and the official diversion route is given as via Totnes and Paignton. I will pause here for the laughter to subside. I cannot see anyone going from shall we say Linden Terrace for example to Sainsburys going via Totnes and Paignton!
What will happen of course is many will find their own diversion route and this is almost certain to involve Wolborough and in particular Coach Road. Traffic is already causing significant problems in Coach Road, it is said since the opening of the South Devon Highway. A road closure of Wolborough High Street for a lengthy period of time will cause total chaos I’m afraid to say. I have implored the County Highways to guarantee that they will be pro active in planning ahead to cope with this issue. I have suggested Coach Road becomes traffic light controlled, that HGVs are banned ( I would like that to be permanent and introduced irrespective of the pending nightmare, but when I have tried in the past I am told it couldn’t be enforced…an argument I don’t accept incidentally) that special consideration is given to local residents and pedestrians safety is prioritised. Coach Road is essentially a country lane, where many already take their lives into their hands when venturing out to walk it.

Coach Road will not be the only road adversely affected, as other roads on Wolborough Hill will almost certainly be used by some as short cuts and diversions.
No date has been officially set for this work, which is not likely to be undertaken this side of the summer. There is therefore plenty of time for the County Highways Department to get their act together and minimise the huge potential disruption.