WITH reference to traffic calming and gateways in Whitchurch Road, those who wish to see traffic calming in action in Tavistock need only to drive to the end of St David's Road. Here, the speed-crazed inhabitants of St David's Gate are incensed by having to cut their speed down from 20 to 15mph by a new chicane currently under construction.
The narrowness of the remaining road could mean that their speed will have to be curtailed even more, but pedestrians will have to watch their step as it seems to me that anything larger than a transit van will have to mount the pavement to circumvent the obstruction. I just hope the emergency services will not be delayed for too long.
The good news is that the developers are paying for this piece of nonsense rather than council tax payers; the bad news is that all the occupants of St David's Gate have probably paid for it indirectly when they bought their properties.
To put this chicane within 100 yards of the end of three cul-de-sacs defies belief, and I assume that the planning authority were responsible for stipulating that the developers incorporated this waste of money. It might be appropriate in large developments but . . . !
But to be serious, it might be just the thing for Whitchurch Road, although two or three might be needed along its length to deter traffic from using the road, and to keep speeds down.
Come up and see it some time!
Keith Bowles
12 St David's Road
Tavistock