AN Okehampton resident has complained to Devon County Council after repeated requests for a safety barrier to protect schoolchildren was ignored by the authority.

As long ago as February 2000, Ana Pulteney requested a barrier should be erected at the corner of the Waitrose goods entrance to protect children walking to and from school.

Charles Pulteney said a further request was made by the chairman of Okehampton 2000 in April — and in July his wife asked for an assurance the barrier would be in place this September.

Mr Pulteney said the barrier still has not been erected — last week he also witnessed a vehicle backing into the goods entrance off the main road.

'I reported the matter immediately to Waitrose's management and to the traffic warden.

'To their great credit, Waitrose management acted immediately and constructively,' said Mr Pulteney.

He said the county council appears to place 'little importance' on the safety of schoolchildren, and was sceptical about the implementation of promises made by officers of the council.

Coleen Herriman, county councillor for Okehampton and a governor of the primary school, said: 'I will speak to the local services officer and make my best endeavours to get the barrier in place.

'Safety is paramount and certainly the county is promoting safer journeys to school — Okehampton Primary School is working closely with the council to enable this to happen.'

Mike Parnell, the county's local services officer at Okehampton said the barrier should be in place imminently — he said problems with a contractor were probably to blame for the delay.