SPEEDING and ‘reckless’ disregard for the public’s safety on a busy stretch of road near Tavistock has forced a group of residents to call for urgent changes to be made.

Whitchurch Road at Grenofen is currently a national speed limit area but nearby residents are calling for the implementation of a 30mph speed restriction.

The mile-long stretch has six side roads, plus many properties with access directly on to the road — mostly with restricted splays. Residents affected say that the road, which has no pavement, is in frequent use by local people, walkers and cyclists, with many using the road to gain access to Dartmoor, plus it is used by farm traffic, tractors and trailers, buses and horse riders.

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.

Sheila said: ‘Residents are increasingly worried about the density of traffic travelling at 60mph racing through this derestricted hamlet. They say that conditions are today so serious that to walk the road or try to cross it is a risk of life.’

In a formal letter to Devon County Council’s highways department, Sheila said: ‘Despite the slow sign on the approach from Whitchurch and warning signs about the lack of footpath on both approaches, traffic speeds through the area with reckless disregard for safety. This situation is exacerbated by the congested condition of Whitchurch Road in Whitchurch and by the 30mph limit through the controlled area. Upon seeing the derestriction sign, drivers accelerate up the hill and through Grenofen.

‘Several accidents have occurred over recent years, including a recent one which involved a delivery van and a motorcyclist. Apart from the regrettable injury to the motorcyclist, considerable costs were incurred, with two fire engines, an ambulance, a helicopter, two police cars and six hours of professional time in the clean-up.

‘We firmly believe that the existing 30mph speed limit needs to be extended on Whitchurch Road through Grenofen with some warning signs or traffic calming measures in order to minimise risk of further accidents in the future.’

Ron Jones, who lives in Grenofen Close which is accessed from that stretch of road, is one of a number of residents in the area who shares the concerns.

He said: ‘There is a 40mph speed limit on the A386 at Grenofen but the back road, as we call it, is still derestricted which seems a bit ridiculous. There are about 40 houses along that road and if we want to walk anywhere, we have to walk along the road which is really risking quite a bit.’

Mr Jones said he had lived in Grenofen Close for 40 years and there had always been the odd speeding car but the density of traffic had quadrupled during his time there. He said he had written to the highways department last week to ask them to do a speed survey on that road but as yet had not had a response.

‘It’s a general feeling among the residents here,’ he said. ‘My main concern is the pedestrian usage. There are two families in the close with young children and they have to walk some of that road twice a day or more to get to the bus stop. Some of us who live here are a bit older and slower and have to walk it to get the bus or go to the postbox, so there is a fair bit of foot traffic on that road, which isn’t very wide.’

A spokesperson from Tavistock Police Station said: ‘We don’t receive many reports of speeding cars in that area. If that is happening then we will ask residents to make contact with us so we can monitor the issue.’

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 data collected used to help the team assess the scale of the problem.’

Do you live along this stretch of road? What are your thoughts? Send your views to [email protected]