Concerns raised over A3052 closure scheduled for new year

The A3052 at Colyford is expected to be closed for nine days in the new year, to allow for the relaying of tramline tracks at the level crossing.

The road - a main route between Lyme Regis, Sidmouth and Exeter - will be closed from Monday, January 4 to Tuesday, January 12 to allow Seaton Tramway to remove and replace the tracks and foundations.

The tram line between Seaton and Colyton took 10 years to complete when the tramway started operating from Riverside Depot in 1970, running first only half a mile to Bobsworth bridge.

The team made their way closer and closer to Colyton as they laid the track by hand, on top of the bed of the old railway line that once linked Seaton to Exeter and London.

Using a team of volunteers and its one works car and wagon, it was not until 1975 that trams could finally cross the road and complete their journey towards Colyton.

After 45 years of wear and tear the track and road is now in need of replacement.

The replacement rails will be laid at a new angle to better suit the points at Colyford and new track laid just north of the olyford Crossing. Once the work is completed, it will also see the installation of a new overhead system which has been delayed to coincide with the track work to avoid a second road closure.

The track replacement is one of a few improvement projects being undertaken by the tramway over the next 12 months, including a new halt at Swans Nest Loop which will eventually allow passengers to board directly at Seaton Wetlands.

The official diversion during the road closure, to be signposted by Devon County Council, will direct traffic coming from Sidmouth off the A3052 at Burnt Oak onto the A357, up to Putts Corner, into Honiton and out on the A35 on the Axminster Road, then along the A358 through Musbury to Boshill Cross.

However, concerns have been raised that the closure and along diversion will increase traffic around Colyton, Musbury and Seaton, as residents take short cuts around the closure.

Speaking at a Colyton Parish Council meeting this week, resident Ian Priestly said Devon County Council had only considered those travelling from Exeter to Lyme Regis in the diversion, and not those travelling to small towns and villages in between.

He commented: "I'm quite concerned about it because there's 6,500 cars a day using that stretch of road. I can see about 3,000 cars a day coming through Colyton, taking the shortcut down Cownhayne Lane or through up to Musbury, and another 3,000 cars a day easily going down Seaton Road. I think it's going to be a real problem."

Mr Priestly said he understood that three layers of concrete needed to be laid for the new tracks, each taking 24 hours to dry. He asked whether it would be possible to create a bridge over the concrete to allow the road to remain open at least some of the time.

Councillors also questioned why the work could not be carried out through the night and the road opened some of the time during the day.

They expressed concerns that the closure would affect nearby businesses, including the White Hart Inn, Wheelwright Inn, Colyford Cycles, the post office and butchers, which had already suffered a difficult period due to the coronavirus pandemic. The diversion is also expected to affect school bus routes.

It was agreed that Colyton Parish Council would write to both Devon County Council and Seaton Tramway to request a meeting to discuss possible options to reduce disruption.

A representative of Seaton Tramway said: "We are pleased that a road closure order has been granted to allow us to undertake these essential works. We will be working closely with our main contractors to remove the existing 45-year-old track and replace with newly sourced rails and more substantial footings.

"Of course, in doing this the carriageway must be closed off to road traffic for the whole duration of the works as we are governed by the curing time of the foundations. All versions of a road closure have been explored but we want to ensure the works are done right and survive the next 40 plus years without further disrupting the A3052.

"We apologise for any disruption or inconvenience this causes during these essential works."