Dartmouth Residents Frustrated Over Year Long Road Closure

People in Dartmouth are upset about Warfleet Road. It’s been closed for a year, prompting residents to action. They gave a petition to the council, which contains around 2,500 signatures. The community’s primary goal is to see the road fixed as quickly as possible.

Locals claim they warned the council in 2023 about the wall’s deteriorating state. Despite prior warnings, the council didn’t take action, leading to the wall’s collapse. This collapse subsequently caused the road to close last February.

A group known as Warfleet Road Warriors is actively pushing for action. Lindsay Ellwood presented the petition to the council at a meeting on February 20. Her key demand is the prompt repair of the road, which now impacts daily life.

Ellwood stated that the initial finish date was projected for September 30. According to her, the council made five promises to fix the road. However, nothing has been done, and they have no current updates on progress or estimated timelines.

She emphasized that Devon Highways is responsible for maintaining the road and that the council should reopen it due to its importance. Currently, the closure results in a four-mile detour to reach Dartmouth’s town center.

Ellwood highlighted the road’s importance for emergency services. Residents and businesses are eager for a confirmed start date for the repairs and a timeline for the road’s reopening. Marina Pusey, another resident, shares these concerns and believes the council hasn’t done enough, questioning when they will act.

Stuart Hughes, a councillor, explained that a legal complication is causing delays. The damaged wall’s location on private property has created difficulties for the council in proceeding with repairs.

Hughes clarified that the wall is the responsibility of nearby landowners. The council attempted to get them to fix it, but the landowner hasn’t agreed since October. As a result, the council initiated legal action to compel the repair, however, this has not been successful to date.

The council is now planning to undertake the repairs themselves and will then seek to recover the costs from the owner. Securing the necessary funding at this stage in the year presents a challenge and some projects may need to be postponed.

Hughes acknowledged that the legal issues are the primary cause of delays. Due to these ongoing challenges, he is unable to provide a firm timeline for the repairs or estimate when the road will reopen.