This is part of our centralised “levelling up” programme.

Doesn’t look like the best way to spend significant sums of money, buy hey, “Big Brother” knows best. – Owl

Proposals to close the underpass outside Exmouth station and add two extra pedestrian crossings nearby have been criticised by the town’s deputy mayor.

Philippa Davies www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

The plans are part of the Exmouth Gateway project to improve the area around the station – the ‘gateway’ to the town centre and seafront for rail travellers and road users arriving via Marine Way.

A public consultation by Devon County Council on the plans is due to end on Monday, August 21.

But the deputy mayor, Cllr Joe Whibley, said he will ask for the consultation to be extended, as he thinks many residents are not fully aware of the proposals.

The Gateway project is part of Exmouth’s ‘Levelling-up’ agenda, in which the town was granted £15.7 million for the Dinan Way extension and measures to make walking and cycling safer near the station.

But concerns are being raised about the closure of the pedestrian subway, the extra pedestrian crossings and the traffic-slowing measures.

Resident John Petty has met Cllr Whibley to express his views. He told the Journal: “Although the crossing is the preferred way there are still a surprising number who use the subway; it the only way to go to and from the town without interfering with the traffic, and those of us who are slower can take their time without feeling they ought to be hurrying across the waiting traffic. Why fill it in, removing all the attractive landscaping, only to have to re-landscape it afterwards?”

He and Cllr Whibley think the crossings and traffic slowing will cause congestion and delays.

They are also questioning why Project Gateway doesn’t include any proposals to smarten up the dilapidated bus station, toilets and car park next to the station exit.

Mr Petty said: “This area could certainly provide a much better access to the car parks, a visible taxi rank, a well-defined free parking area for pick up and drop-off, with decent shelter for all these and the possibility of providing cycle and mobility hire.”

He said the Gateway funding is ‘a marvellous opportunity to provide a considerable benefit to the town but, as presented, it appears to have serious flaws and shortcomings’.

More details of the proposals, and the online consultation, can be found on Devon County Council’s website under Exmouth Active Travel Improvements.