Kingskerswell Alliance


  • Here are some facts we think you should know.

On the 27th June 2002, Devon County Council and Torbay Council prepared a joint report claiming "the high level of in principle support for the bypass (83% of respondents) be welcomed..."

However, in the body of the document it explains that of 62,040 explanatory leaflets and questionnaires made available to the public, only 4112 (6.7%) were returned.

Of the 83% who indicated a general support, 15% did so whilst submitting detailed alterations to the plans being considered. Therefore the number indicating full support to the current proposals should be reduced down to 68%. It is also interesting to note that 2625 (64%) of the questionnaires included additional comments or concerns.

The report went on to state that 30% of the replies came from Kingskerswell and 10% from Buckland/Milber and Aller Park areas of Newton Abbot. In the responses from these areas, it is claimed that 68% of respondants supported the proposals.

Now those tasked to sample public opinion chose the Weekender to distribute their questionaire. Now the Weekender is a fine publication, freely distributed and therefore would reach the majority of affected households, right?

Wrong - the Weekender is not distributed in Kingskerswell and therefore the survey can hardly be considered truly representative.

So what do all these figures mean?

Well lets now look at the crunch figures, what was the public response when asked directly if they supported the current bypass proposals?

The table below sets out the figures of those who oppose or support the bypass. The third figure is those who support the principal of a bypass but seek changes.

Against In favour Seeking changes
Kingskerswell 208 (31.5%) 330 (50%) 97 (14.7%)
Buckland, Milber & Aller Park 79 (21.9%) 132 (36.6%) 132 (36.6%)
Torbay central 183 (7.4%) 1871 (75.9%) 295 (12%)
These figures mean that only 4.5% of the local community actually responded with positive support for the present bypass proposals.

You can also see that in the Buckland, Milber & Aller Park areas, the level of support for the current proposals dropped to 36.6%

These figures can hardly be called a high level of support and do not represent a convincing mandate to spend well in excess of £50m on a scheme that will devastate the village of Kingskerswell and destroy five listed Country Wildlife Sites.


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