Residents of the Newtown area in Exeter are being invited to share their thoughts on draft improvement plans for the Newtown Community Project.
The project, led by Exeter City Council as part of the Live and Move programme, is funded by Sport England and delivered in partnership with Devon County Council. It aims to enhance everyday life and journeys in Newtown by making it easier and safer to get around, as well as improving access to green spaces for everyone.
Draft plans have been developed following a residents’ survey conducted by Exeter City Council in 2021. The survey revealed a strong sense of community in Newtown, alongside a need for support to make walking, wheeling, and cycling easier and safer. It also highlighted concerns about occasional congestion and identified a desire for improvements to community facilities and green spaces.
Residents are now being asked to share their views on the draft plans. At the same time, the Live and Move team at the City Council will engage with local organisations and other stakeholders to gather further feedback.
Councillor Matthew Vizard, City Councillor for Newtown and St Leonards and Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change & Communities, emphasised the importance of local input. He said:
“It’s important to emphasise the word ‘draft’ here because these plans are not set in stone, although they are based on what residents said back in 2021. I’m in no doubt that everyone living in this area of Exeter will have a view on what changes they might like to see in Newtown. Whatever those views are, we’d really like to hear about them so that we can ensure decisions are made by the community and for the community.”
In addition to improving general wellbeing in the area, the project is also expected to help Newtown residents contribute to tackling the climate emergency.
Devon County Councillor and Newtown resident Su Aves welcomed the consultation, saying:
“As a resident of the Newtown area myself, I’m really pleased to see that plans are in place to engage with the community around these proposals. I encourage anybody who lives in the area to have their say and speak up about the changes they’d like to see.”
Sport England is supporting this project through the Live and Move programme, while Exeter City Council and Devon County Council will assist in its delivery.
The draft plans are available to view at liveandmove.co.uk/Newtown. Larger copies of the plans will also be available at the Civic Centre and at public information events over the coming weeks. Residents can share their thoughts via a digital survey.
For more information on the project, including the engagement survey and dates of public events, visit liveandmove.co.uk/Newtown.
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