VITAL safety work on one of Tiverton's busiest roads is to get underway next week.

A £1.1million scheme, introducing a series of traffic-calming measures on Blundell's Road will start on Monday, July 4. 

The measures are to reduce speeds, and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road. 

The first phase of the scheme will establish a 20mph limit in the area around Blundell's Road, extending into Tidcombe Lane.

Raised table traffic-calming will be introduced on Blundell's Road, and the road will be narrowed outside of the school and in the areas where the raised tables are located.

A new puffin crossing will also be installed near Blundell's School.

There are around 3,000 pedestrian movements across the road outside the front of the school every day, and the improvements on the road are needed to help reduce the impact of increased traffic levels which are expected to arise from housing and employment development planned to the east of Tiverton.

The work outside of Blundell's School will be carried out during the school holidays in July and August, with temporary traffic lights in place.

Surfacing work is scheduled to be carried out from Monday, August 22, using a five day road closure.

The rest of the work, either side of Blundell's School, will be undertaken during September and October, with the majority carried out using temporary traffic lights.

However, closure will again be needed to complete surfacing work, although a date is yet to be confirmed.

The scheme, which is being funded through developer contributions from the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension, has been developed following public consultation while also working closely with Mid Devon District Council and Blundell’s School.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for Highway Management, said: “The scheme aims to create a safer environment for all road users, but especially pedestrians, by introducing these measures.

"It will also promote sustainable travel and hopefully discourage through-traffic from using this route.

"Feedback from public consultation has helped inform the design for this traffic calming scheme and it has been important to maintain the character of Blundell’s Road so the scheme has been designed sympathetically to complement the school's architecture.”

Councillor Des Hannon, Devon County Councillor for Tiverton East, said: “These changes will adjust the balance on Blundell's Road in favour of pedestrian safety.

"Drivers will need to practice a bit of patience and tolerance while we get used to the scheme.

"The details of the plan were decided by local people from a public consultation.

"Once the scheme is in place we all need to make it work. The engineering is only the start.”

The work will be carried out by SIAC Construction Ltd.

A second phase of the scheme, which will introduce improvements to the section between Tidcombe Lane and Hartnoll Cross, is planned to be introduced at a later date.