Salcombe Hill camping site - a letter in the Sidmouth Herald 10 Jan 2014.
Also available at: http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/sidmouth_life_2_1393/letters/traffic_concerns_1_3193694
Traffic
concerns.
Residents of Salcombe Hill and Salcombe Regis have valid concerns about the impact of
moving the FolkWeek campsite.
Many attendees also have reservations and these have been aired on internet discussion
groups. I have stewarded at festivals and I understand traffic management. I have also
driven festival minibuses.
A principal concern is using buses up and down Salcombe Hill when there will inevitably be
pedestrians using the same inadequate and dangerous road, and especially at night. The
Sidmouth Hopper operates only in daylight. It is rarely fully loaded and does not have to
weave around scores of pedestrians.
We do not understand how the organisers intend to move hundreds of people within an hour
or less from the town centre to the campsite (or in the other direction) using only a few
small buses and along a road that is inherently unsuitable. A very frequent shuttle
service would be required - having reference to the numbers of people who travel to and
from the Bulverton campsite at peak periods.
East Devon District Council licensing procedures may be inadequate. I have asked Devon
County Council for a copy of the purported 'traffic management' plan.
EDDC’s remit includes public safety and public nuisance. At other folk festivals,
pedestrian safety is competently addressed.
For example, at Towersey there is a 200m stretch of flat, easily traversed road much used
by pedestrians and only little traffic. It is lit at night using small petrol or diesel
generators.
The Salcombe Hill route is much longer and vastly more risky for both pedestrians and
drivers.
We are promised a competent traffic plan – and it must be subjected to detailed
public scrutiny.
It might be best to have all buses routed via Fortescue and the A3052.
Dr Stephen J Wozniak
Sidford.