South West

A Professor of Architecture says that he’s shocked people living in the South West aren’t doing more about the state of roads in the region.

"I think that we should be angrier about the state of our streets. Angrier about the assumption that the motor car dominates everything. Angrier about the poor quality of what we pedestrians have to put up with," says Professor Jeremy Gould.

"It’s a sad indictment that in what we think of as the best region in the country, we seem unable to design and maintain a decent street."

One of his top complaints is that there are just too many road signs.

For him, the idea of following some European cities – and getting rid of road signs completely - seems like an attractive one.

Removing road signs

One place where the idea has already been implemented is in Makkinga, in the Dutch province of Western Frisia. 

Urban clutter - unsightly street signs

At the entrance of to the town, a sign reads "Verkeersbordvrij" which means "free of traffic signs."

In this area, cars chug along at their own pace over the granite cobblestones with signs nowhere to be seen and there aren’t even any lines on the road.

Perhaps best of all, there are no parking meters or stopping restrictions.

Worst offenders

Jeremy Gould picked seven roads and streets in the South West of England that he thought planners had got totally wrong.

Below is a list of his worst offenders and what he thought... in reverse order:

7. Mutley Plain, Plymouth

"It would be very easy to fix this. Remove the railings, remove the art, repair the pavements and plant some decent trees."

6. Stickelpath Roundabout, Barnstaple

"Why does putting Stonehenge here make our lives better?"

5. Market Street, Crewkerne

"This is a tragedy all too common in small market towns."

4. Portreath, Cornwall

"How is it possible to design places as badly as this when the place could and should be beautiful?"

3. South entry to Exeter

"All tin sheds, car parks and signs and a ghastly landscape which is meant to conceal the truth."

2. Torbay Road, Torquay

"As it is, why would you come here?"

1. Exeter and Charles Street, Plymouth

"It’s just a busy road with some buildings thrown around it."

Drab and dreary - another grim street.

Have your say...

So, is Professor Jeremy Gould right? Are these really the worst roads in the region?

Or do you know of some that are worse?

Send your comments on the form below or email them to insideout@bbc.co.uk