A SPECIAL ceremony will be held at Crediton’s new £8.5 million link road on Wednesday (1 October) ahead of its opening.

Devon County Council Chairman Councillor George Gribble will unveil a ceremonial plaque at the new road, known as Wellparks Hill, at 10:30am. Although the opening of the road is due to follow soon after, the exact timing of when it will open to the public will depend on completion of minor work.

Construction of the 760 metre single carriageway started in July 2013.

The completed road now provides a new direct route to the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate from the Wellparks roundabout on the A377, and also includes a shared cycleway and footway.

Wellparks Hill, which received £2.96 million of Local Pinch Point funding from the Department for Transport, aims to tackle congestion and improve air quality along Exeter Road as well as Charlotte Street, East Street and Mill Street.

Crediton is a designated Air Quality Management Area and the Link Road forms a key part of Mid Devon District Council’s Air Quality Action Plan.

The scheme, constructed by contractor South West Highways on behalf of Devon County Council, will also support economic growth by improving access to the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate and identified development sites.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “I am delighted we have been able to deliver this vital road. This is an important investment in Crediton’s future economic growth and supports the County Council’s drive to develop Devon’s infrastructure.

"Wellparks Hill not only provides heavy vehicles with a more direct connection to the industrial estate but it also unlocks access to employment and residential land, which hopefully will create more jobs in the area.

"This scheme is a key part of the effort to improve air quality and tackle congestion in the eastern part of the town, so residents in the eastern part of the town should benefit from reduced traffic levels.”

Councillor Nick Way, local County Councillor for Crediton Rural, said: “People in Crediton have been campaigning and putting pressure on the authorities to provide Crediton with a traffic relief scheme for many years. I am pleased our new road is about to open. Although it will not solve all of Crediton’s traffic issues, I am sure that the new road will improve the congestion problems for people living in the eastern part of the town and for travellers using the A377.

"It will provide an alternative and more direct route than Exeter Road through to Lords Meadow and onto the Tiverton Road.

"It will also help to filter traffic if an emergency occurs or if necessary road works are needed between the Tesco roundabout and the entrance to the town causing a road closure, and thus saving bus users and motorists travelling to and from Exeter an unacceptable 17 miles detour via Bickleigh Bridge.”

Ahead of the official ceremony, a charity fundraising Community Walk will be held on Sunday (28 September) from 2pm–4pm on Wellparks Hill. The walk will be in support of the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal that was launched earlier this year.

Dogs will be welcome providing they are kept on leads and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Donations will be invited in support of the Campaign Roof Appeal.