A GROUP of residents are once again calling for urgent changes to be made to a narrow stretch of road near Tavistock.

Whitchurch Road through Grenofen currently has a 60mph limit but nearby residents are calling for the road to be restricted at 30mph — with the added call that the area should be classed as a village.

The mile of road has six side roads, plus many properties with access directly on to the road — mostly with restricted splays. Residents affected say that the road is in frequent use by local people, walkers and cyclists, with many using the road to gain access to Dartmoor.

The call to make the road 30mph has been spearheaded by husband and wife team Dr Robert and Sheila Neybour, whose house backs onto Whitchurch Road.

Mrs Neybour said: ‘The narrow mile of road is used by locals including children on their way to and from school, walkers and cyclists, horse riders, farm tractors and trailers. Within the mile there are 40 odd houses.

‘The UK Department for Transport paper states that any group of 20 houses or more is a village and should have a speed restriction of 30mph. It also states that the quality of life of residents should be taken into account and that their views must be considered.

‘We have undertaken a petition “Grenofen seeks village status and a 30mph speed limit” which in one week, locally, received 100 signatures.’

Since the couple launched their appeal, residents have been in contact with parish, West Devon borough and Devon County councillors and the Highways Agency in Exeter. Residents have also undertaken a time limited informal survey of traffic which showed that 15.4% of through traffic exceeded 40mph, one car exceeded 60mph with children and horse riders in the vicinity.

Mrs Neybour added: ‘Local residents are seriously worried about the dangers of speeding traffic on Whitchurch Road through Grenofen.

‘This dangerous situation must be remedied and soon before there is a fatality.’

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: ‘The concerns about speeding vehicles on the C474 (Whitchurch Road) at Grenofen will be considered by the Speed Compliance and Review Forum. Speed readings will be taken on site and the date collected used to help the team assess the scale of the problem.’

It is believed the issue will be discussed at County Hall in November.