Six ‘pop-up’ footway and cycle schemes to improve social distancing are appearing across Torbay.

The six temporary schemes, which are being put in place now, are to help improve the local environment for those who want to walk and cycle more around the Bay, whilst maintaining social distancing. It will also help avoid overcrowding on public transport.

These pop-up schemes have been funded by the Governments Emergency Active Travel fund for the main purpose of promoting cycling as a replacement for journeys that were previously made on public transport. The highest levels of funding has been given to areas which, until the pandemic, had high levels of public transport use, especially for short and local journeys which can now be cycled.

The six schemes will see widening of pavements and creating areas of shared space for cyclists and pedestrians and will be in place at:

• Torbay Road, Torquay - temporary widening of the footway that runs under the bridge on the seafront, opposite the Abbey Sands development
• Torre Abbey Sea Front and Meadows – existing wide footways to be converted into a shared footway and cycle way. This will link to the already existing cycle way in the area.
• Station Square, Paignton - closure of a traffic lane so the footway opposite the Train Station can be extended.
• Marine Drive, Paignton –temporary widening of the footway between Paignton seafront and Preston seafront.
• Dartmouth Road, Paignton – temporary arrangement to provide a shared footway/cycleway to link to existing cycle provision outside of the shops at Waterside.
• Temporary road closures outside two primary schools, Curledge Street in Paignton and Furzeham in Brixham, and will be operational at the beginning and end of the school day to allow for social distancing.

There will also be continued monitoring of Town Centre locations to see if further social distancing issues are identified.

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture, Torbay Council, said “As social distancing guidance is here to stay we need to provide improvements at certain locations across the Bay to encourage more people to walk and cycle for both commuting and pleasure.

“The main purpose of this funding is to promote cycling and walking as a replacement for journeys previously made by public transport. This funding will allow us to act in an effort to embed walking and cycling into residents habits and therefore reap the associated health, air quality and congestion benefits.

“We are also working towards submitting a bid in early August for a further £221,000 for more permanent schemes.”

These temporary schemes will be in place for up to 18 months. During this time traffic will be monitored and, in consultation with local residents, made permanent if considered successful or altered or removed if they are felt to not be working.

To see the drawings of these schemes visit: www.torbay.gov.uk/pop-up-footpaths