Plympton road closure - Councillor 'in the dark' as plans go to Secretary of State

A proposed permanent road closure between Sherford and Plympton St Maurice has sparked concern among residents, with one local councillor saying she was “completely in the dark” about the latest plans.

The Sherford Consortium has applied to permanently close a 282-metre stretch of highway known as ‘Road Past Vealeholme’, which runs between Main Street in Sherford and Plympton Hill.

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The proposal is now with the Secretary of State for Transport, who will decide whether to make a stopping-up order under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 

A 28-day consultation period for local residents to have their say began on Monday 23 February.

The consortium says the closure ‘would take pressure off existing rural roads’ in Plympton St Maurice and ‘encourage motorists to use alternative routes’, namely, Deep Lane. 

It also says utility works linked to Phase 4 of the Sherford development, including gas pipeline and overhead cable diversions, are required in the area.

However, the plans have prompted a strong reaction locally amongst residents and council members.

Cllr Terri Beer, ward member for Plympton Erle, told The Moorlander she was first made aware of the closure after a resident contacted her.

“I was not informed of the proposal until a resident sent me the letter,” she told this publication.

“I have had a high number of enquiries from Plympton residents. People feel they have had no voice in this.”

Cllr Beer said the proposal had gone through the planning process without objections but is now a matter for central government.

“It’s now up to the Secretary of State,” she said. “There has been talk about this since 2007, but I feel we’ve been left completely in the dark.”

She added that the potential impact on local infrastructure needed to be considered more carefully.

“The bigger picture is Deep Lane and Cot Hill. They are not built to take this volume of traffic, it’s off the scale. The infrastructure needs to be thought out a lot more.”

Under the plans, all homes, farms and businesses adjoining Plympton Hill would remain accessible. 

However, Cllr Beer warned the closure could create practical issues for local businesses in the St Maurice area.

“Closing the road could cause problems for the pub and the hotel, particularly around deliveries and supply,” she said.

The Moorlander spoke to St Elizabeth’s House, a hotel on Longbrook Street in Plympton, who were unaware of the proposed road closure, but hoped the potential effects on business ‘would be negligible’ due to a number of alternate routes available to get people to the hotel.

Online, reaction from Plympton and Sherford residents has been mixed. 

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Some argue the road has become a ‘rat run’ and say closure would ease pressure on conservation areas in Plympton St Maurice. 

Others say Deep Lane and Haye Road are already heavily congested and fear traffic will worsen if the link is removed.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact on people commuting between Plympton, Plymstock and surrounding villages, as well as on small businesses that rely on passing trade.

Cllr Beer confirmed there were also ongoing discussions about Section 106 funding linked to the Sherford development.

“There have been talks about Section 106 money from the Sherford Consortium to alleviate heavy traffic, but it was just talk on talk on talk.

“The towns and villages have suffered for years with increasing traffic. People want infrastructure in place before more changes are made” she added.

Anyone wishing to object to the proposed stopping-up order must write to the National Transport Casework Team by midnight on 23 March 2026, quoting reference NATTRAN/SW/S247/6207.

Public notices are due to be displayed at each end of the affected section of road.