A CONTROVERSIAL traffic order will be implemented on a busy residential area in Tavistock, it was announced last week.

A traffic order by Highways and Transport Orders Committee (HATOC) for double yellow lines down one side of Grenville Drive was supported by members of Tavistock Town Council last Tuesday (February 13) at its full council meeting.

The order was advertised last year by HATOC after it had received requests from a number of organisations, including the fire service, that it struggled to gain access to the estate off Plymouth Road.

In January, a site visit took place, which was attended by councillors from Tavistock, West Devon and Devon county, along with members of HATOC. At this site visit it was decided that the issue should be referred back to the town council, due to its complexity.

Within the council’s development management and licensing committee on January 23, members recommended that in the interests of safety, reducing pavement parking and ensuring access by emergency vehicles, that ‘implementation of the traffic order be supported’.

Chairman of the committee and deputy mayor Cllr Paul Ward said: ‘At the meeting members of the public were present who put their views forward. It was the conclusion of the committee that we should recommend that the traffic order be implemented as proposed, which is double yellow lining along the left side to the first junction.

‘We were very mindful of the problem of parking in that area — Wesbridge have seen their parking reduced over the years. On the other hand, we have had reports, verbal, of emergency services warning that they would not be able to get their vehicles through [in the event of an emergency].

‘Taking all factors into account they made this recommendation on the grounds of safety.’

This recommendation was put to councillors at full council, who felt that they were being made to be the ‘bad guy’ with their own constituents.

Cllr Mandy Ewings said she felt the council did not have any other option but to support the traffic order.

‘I don’t think they [HATOC] expected that level of feeling between the two camps — Grenville Drive and Westbridge Cottages. I have never known, in my 15 years of being a councillor, that HATOC actually refers it [a traffic order] back to a town council, as they usually make the decision. It’s a cop out and been put back to us!’

Cllr Paul Williamson said: ‘The fact is that our community is torn by this — we are now going to make a decision that appeases no-one and put into the corner and painted as the bad guys, it’s not right or democratic in my view. I accept that emergency vehicles need to access Grenville Drive and if somebody suffers as a result of this not happening then we will be in a worse situation. I will have to agree that the double yellows will have to be gone for, but this is wrong for how they have put us in a very difficult position.’

Cllr Julia Whitcomb supported the traffic order. She said: ’I have heard from the fire brigade that they cannot get through and people living there have told me this. It is very dangerous for disabled and people with prams as they have to walk in the road, which I think is unacceptable in this day and age.’

Cllr Pete Squire agreed with the traffic order but asked for considerations to be made of alternative parking for residents in the area.

Councillors voted to support the traffic order but agreed to form a sub-committee, of ward members and interested councillors, to draft recommendations to Devon County Council that flag the issues surrounding this traffic order and offer suggestions.