THAT county wishes to block analysis of Bedford Square (Times November 23) might be taken that they fear the result. Some basic errors of the scheme may come to light. One such is the reduction of traffic lanes from four to two.
Those who frequent Tavistock will know that with only one lane on the church side serving three exits, any stoppage on any one exit causes a blockage which can build up far enough back to impinge upon Plymouth Road.
This has been seen to occur on different days and at different times of day. Granted the stoppages clear quite quickly but they do increase the perceived volume of traffic, add to pollution levels and reduce the value of the rest of the scheme.
If there were to be two lanes serving three exits (West Street, Drake Road, Brook Street) a stoppage on one should allow traffic to flow on one, if not two others. Traffic would move more smoothly through the square and would not clot to the extent that it does now.
The last traffic figures I hold are for 1996. These show 7,300 vehicles using the church side; 2,300 the town hall side. My request for up to date figures has not yet been answered but I should expect them to show some increase and a forecast of future increase would be useful. No doubt it will be claimed that one lane will statistically be able to cope, but statistics are unlikely to be sufficiently sophisticated to reveal the random arrivals of clots of traffic and exit stoppages.
And we all know the old saw that 'There are lies, damned lies and statistics'. The square is a matter of people's perception.
A R Cole
17 Deer Park
Crescent
Tavistock