SPEEDING, parking and more police presence were identified as issues of concern in Topsham at the town s partners and communities together meeting. Residents who attended the meeting, held in Matthews Hall on Thursday, June 18, were asked to write down o

SPEEDING, parking and more police presence were identified as issues of concern in Topsham at the town's partners and communities' together meeting.

Residents who attended the meeting, held in Matthews Hall on Thursday, June 18, were asked to write down on cards any worries they had.

These were then collected by chairperson Percy Giles, Topsham's police community support officer.

After examination of the cards it was decided to keep the three issues, also identified as concerns at the last meeting earlier this year, as priorities for people to try to resolve.

PACT initiatives are a method which allows the police and partner agencies to engage with community members to identify and work on matters which affect people.

Mr Giles, with regards to achieving more police presence, explained to the audience that the new neighbourhood beat manager for Topsham, PC Kevin Wetherell, would be undertaking regular patrols.

He said Mr Wetherell would mainly be patrolling on a cycle, enabling him to cover more of the town's outskirts.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, who retained his seat for the Topsham and St Loyes ward at the county council elections on June 4, promised a review of parking in the town.

As reported in the Exmouth Journal last month, a preliminary design to improve the roads and make them safer will be produced and consulted later in the summer.

An Exeter City Council spokesperson said: "Subject to the outcome of the consultation, we hope that work will be completed early next year.

"We are currently looking at a 20mph limit for the majority of Topsham."

Exeter-based firm Parsons Brinckerhoff will work as traffic consultants for the project.

Alex Russell, engineer for Parsons, said the design phase was nearing completion and, following client approval, consultation would begin with members of the public in Topsham.

He added: "We are undertaking the design and supervision of a highway improvement scheme that will see the introduction of a 20mph speed limit within the town.

"As part of the scheme, it is intended that traffic calming measures are implemented on either side of the existing zebra crossing on Denver Road.

"Please be assured we will implement the scheme as soon as is possible within the constraints."

And, where parking was concerned, members of the audience pointed out the car parks had been empty since charges had been applied.

City councillor Rob Newby said the county council were in the process of looking into the issue.