Magdalen Road, Exeter

A public consultation is being held on possible changes to the layout of Magdalen Road, Exeter including vehicle access and improvements to the public realm.

Please read the options outlined below and then submit your views through our online survey. Alternative methods for providing us with feedback are also detailed below.

A paper leaflet showing the consultation options can be requested by email to transportplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.

Background to the proposed changes

Magdalen Road is an attractive and vibrant local neighbourhood centre at the heart of the St Leonard’s community. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government launched an Emergency Active Travel Fund, which allowed Devon County Council to make temporary changes to Magdalen Road to support social distancing.

The change reduced through traffic to one way (westbound towards the city centre) and widened the footway on the northern side of the street to support social distancing in a popular neighbourhood centre. A contraflow cycle lane was also provided as part of a cross-city cycle route (E9) connecting Pynes Hill to the city centre to enhance alternative travel choices while capacity on public transport was reduced by social distancing requirements.

Feedback received so far on the changes to Magdalen Road has been mixed, with strong views both for and against. The changes under the temporary traffic order have given residents, businesses, and users of Magdalen Road an opportunity to see how Magdalen Road could be different and how the pedestrian environment could be improved.

This consultation is an opportunity for you to have input into the future of Magdalen Road. If there is support for permanent changes, a more detailed consultation will take place later this year on the preferred option. Any permanent changes to Magdalen Road will also take into account and how to address the impact on surrounding streets.

We invite you to let us know what you think about the options set out in the consultation and engage in the conversation.

The consultation options

We are seeking your views on the below four options which include a range of changes to vehicle access and improvements to the pedestrian environment on Magdalen Road.

Option 1: one-way westbound with contraflow cycle lane

Option 1 is to make the current temporary layout on Magdalen Road permanent.

Vehicular traffic would be one-way westbound only (towards city centre direction) so that there is no queuing traffic from the signalised junction by the Mount Radford. A contraflow (eastbound) cycle lane would also be provided.

The footway on the northern side of the street would be widened providing an extra 1.5 – 2.0 metres of level footway. This is wider than the additional temporary footway as the space used by temporary barriers would also become footway.

The additional footway space would be suitable for higher footfall and could also be utilised by businesses for pavement cafes, additional seating, cycle parking or planting to enhance the attractiveness of visiting the street. Exact details of any street furniture and positioning of loading areas would be finalised through further consultation on a more detailed proposal.

The existing on-street parking would be retained, albeit the direction of the bays changed to allow them to be driven into and reversed out.

Traffic management on surrounding streets, such as Denmark Road, Barnfield Road and Spicer Road would also form part of any change to Magdalen Road under this option.

Option 2: one-way eastbound (with or contraflow cycle lane)

Option 2a is Magdalen Road to become one-way eastbound direction (a reversal to option 1) with a contraflow (westbound) cycle lane.

Option 2b is one-way eastbound but without the contraflow cycle lane. Cyclists travelling west towards the city centre would be diverted via Spicer Road.

Both options enable widening of the footway on Magdalen Road which could be utilised by businesses for pavement cafes, additional seating, cycle parking or planting to enhance the attractiveness of visiting the street.

The area of extra footway for Option 2a of approximately 1.5-2.0 metres is comparable with Option 1. With Option 2b a slightly wider area of footway, approximately 2.0 – 2.5 metres wider than current is achievable.

Vehicles heading eastbound would queue at the Mount Radford signalised junction, resulting in stationary vehicles and more pollution on the eastern end of the street. Under both options, measures to restrict through traffic on Spicer Road will be required as Spicer Road is an unsuitable route to provide a diversion loop for vehicles. Under this option, Spicer Road would also be the signed section of the E9 strategic cycle route.

The existing on-street parking would be retained, and vehicles with side entry doors would be facing onto the kerbside when loading or unloading

Option 3: low traffic neighbourhood

Option 3 is to create a low traffic street and provide significantly more space for pedestrians. The option reduces all through traffic on Magdalen Road but maintains vehicle access for business and residents.

The street environment would be changed to provide more space for pedestrians and for outdoor seating for business on Magdalen Road. Gateway features and surfacing could be changed between St Leonards Road and Wonford Road to provide a low traffic street. This would help to create an environment which is visited for longer periods of time.

The option reduces all through traffic on Magdalen Road, with vehicular access between St Leonards Road and Wonford Road only provided for loading and access. Local vehicular access would be retained between Wonford Road and Denmark Road. Cyclists would be able to travel in both directions.

A comprehensive plan for local traffic management and vehicular access would also be needed to ensure traffic is not displaced onto adjacent residential streets.

The existing on-street echelon parking bays would be changed. Additional on-street parking/loading could be provided on Magdalen Road between Wonford Road and Denmark Road and the on-street parking on Demark Road could also be moved to the other side of the road closer to Magdalen Road shops.

This option represents the most significant change to Magdalen Road and would be the most expensive of the proposed options. Progression would likely require external funding and is likely to have the longest timescales for delivery.

Option 4: return Magdalen Road to two-way traffic

Option 4 would return Magdalen Road to its previous layout before the COVID-19 temporary measures were installed.

All traffic management measures, additional footway and contraflow cycle lane would be removed, and two-way vehicle access from both directions reinstated on Magdalen Road.

The return to two-way traffic would increase traffic passing and viewing shops. It would however be a return of vehicles queuing at the traffic lights and be less attractive for pedestrians and cyclists than other options in this consultation.

If this is the preferred option, the temporary measures would most likely remain for a few more months while there are still social distancing and travel restrictions before then being removed.

The following Magdalen Road consultation leaflet provides additional 2D plans showing the key features of each option.

Have your say at our public consultation events

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, no physical consultation events will be held. Instead, we will be holding two online events:

• an online consultation presentation 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday 3 March
• a ‘drop-in’ question and answer event 12.00 pm to 1.30 pm on Monday 8 March

Please email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk to register for either event.

The consultation material will remain available for view online throughout the consultation period, which runs from 25 February to 25 March 2021.

If there is support for permanent changes, a more detailed consultation will take place later this year on the preferred option, which will also take into account the impact of the changes on Magdalen Road to surrounding streets.

Questionnaire

We ask that you submit your views through our online survey.

If you are unable to complete the survey online or wish to receive a paper copy of the consultation material please get in contact by:

• emailing transportplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
• writing to Transport Planning, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD

Frequently asked questions

Read some frequently asked questions in relation to the scheme.

Accessibility

We take accessibility seriously and recognise that some of the information presented in the files available on this page may not be fully accessible to someone using assistive technology such as a screen reader.

If you need guidance or an alternative format, email transportplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk with details of any preferred format and the assistive technology you use.