YOUR correspondent John Deards (April 20) is quite right to castigate the so-called rural gateway between Whitchurch and Grenofen, but he is wrong in thinking that such a blot would not be tolerated on Dartmoor.

The National Park boundary actually runs along the eastern hedge of the stretch of road in question, and one must assume that the park authority has given its approval.

The expensive clutter is akin to the metal signs and white roundels on the narrow and ancient lanes around Sampford Spiney and in the Widecombe area as a part of the ineffective and wasteful 40mph scheme within the National Park.

Few people would not wish to slow down traffic or provide a safe route for cyclists, but the practical application of measures to achieve this requires an approach that is sensitive to the local environment.

The character of the road between Whitchurch and Grenofen has been mindlessly damaged, and nobody would appear to benefit except the highway authority which receives the large sums of money involved.

Tom Greeves

Chairman

The Dartmoor Society