My name is Ralph Clark. I am a among the 30,000+ residents in South Hams who depend on the A379 Slapton Line road as a crucial infrastructure route for our daily activities. We commute between Dartmouth & Kingsbridge for work, medical appointments, school, shopping, tourism, and leisure. This road, our lifeline and vital infrastructure between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, has been breached by the sea due to intensified storms and escalating effects of climate change. 
The road also offers protection to Slapton Ley from the sea. Slapton Ley is a SSSI designation that is 3000 years old. It is home to countless numbers of habitat and and vegetation, some of which do not exist anywhere else.
It is visited for educational purposes by people from all over the country.

The move to adaptation of the inland roads is recognised and needed to provide a realistic approach for communities in the area to go about their daily lives. There has been talk about adaptation since November 2023 and still nothing has happened. It's procrastination at its worst. 
However, it is essential that the A379 Slapton Line Road is repaired to allow residents, businesses and visitors to travel freely in the area whilst the inland roads are upgraded in preparation for future damage to the road.

Representatives of Parish Councils in the area have the support of the majority of the electorate to 'GET IT DONE'. Regrettably Parish Councils have been accused of 'head in sand' syndrome by those who consistently claim policy change and additional funding will never happen.

What's happening now because of the level of damage?
Approaches are being made to the government for more support funding to carry out repairs. Meanwhile, those residents who need to use the A379 road across Slapton Line to go about their daily lives have to make a 50 minute 20 mile journey to Torcross via Kingsbridge instead of 10 minute 3 mile drive. The other option is to risk road congestion by using pothole ridden single lanes with limited passing bays. 

We deserve better from our MP, Local Authorities as well as the Environment Agency, Natural England and South West National Landscape. The last three include unelected representatives involved in the Slapton Line Partnership.

Each time the road gets closed the result is chaos as the alternative inland routes prove to be unsuitable for road users especially farm vehicles, buses and heavy goods vehicles. The majority are single carriageway with limited passing bays. 

Whilst there have been attempts to protect this crucial route, these efforts have been hampered by budget constraints. However, this should not be the end of the fight. 

Residents and visitors, who depend on this road, call upon the government to provide adequate funding to provide a long-term solution to protect the A379 Slapton Line Road. We need proactive measures to protect the economic viability and sustainability of the area. 

We urge the government to demonstrate to us that the lives of residents who depend on this route and the critical importance of the A379 Slapton Line Road is recognised. It's not just an A road, it provides a remarkable livelihood for everyone who lives or visits the area. 

Please, sign this petition to call upon the government to commit to a long-term solution to protect the A379 Slapton Line road by providing adequate funding and resources as a matter of priority.