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£1.7m LEP funded scheme to widen Newton Road starts

Work to widen the A3022 Newton Road in Torquay, between Shiphay Lane and Lowes Bridge has started. The scheme will see Newton Road widened to create an additional lane for traffic heading towards Riviera Way. The £1.7m scheme is being funded by The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Torbay Council, and is the final phase of £3.4m of improvements identified under the Torquay Gateway Project.

Advanced works commenced on 5th  October to replace the life expired traffic signals at Shiphay Lane, as well as minor improvements to the pedestrian crossings at the junction. The carriageway will also be widened and resurfaced between Shiphay Lane and Regents Close. These works are due to be completed early in the new year.

The main works to widen Newton Road will start in January 2021, and these works will see the carriageway widened into land alongside the railway line, helping to create an improved bus stop and left turn lane towards the hospital. These works will also see improvements to the highway drainage, including the provision of storm water retention systems. The traffic signals at Regents Close and Woodland Road junctions will be replaced, and improvements made to the pedestrian islands on Newton Road. The carriageway will be resurfaced from the advanced works up to the junction at Lowes Bridge.

Cllr Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay Council, said, ‘The implementation of this highway scheme is a major investment into one of our main traffic routes in and out of Torbay. The Torquay Gateway Scheme is a series of transport improvements, which have included investment into walking and cycling facilities in the area, as well as traffic improvements, such as this one and I am pleased to see this important final phase of the project get under way.

“Unfortunately works to improve this busy transport route will result in some disruption to traffic, for which we apologise and efforts will be made to minimise this where possible. The end result however will be a positive effect to journey times along this route, linking to the benefits we already have from the South Devon Highway.”

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: “This is the final phase of the Torquay Gateway scheme, which opens up key sites in Torbay for existing and planned employment, while reducing journey times and increasing journey time reliability. The Growth Deal funding invested in this project is anticipated to generate 720 new jobs 734 new homes. The works will also provide more confidence to inward investors, aid existing businesses and encourage new investment in new commercial and housing schemes.”

The scheme is due to be completed in autumn 2021.  Full details of this scheme can be found on the Torbay Council website here.

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.