RESIDENTS of a Tavistock estate who are campaigning for action over recent road changes say more urgency is needed, to avoid the possibility of traffic accidents.

People living in Tiddybrook Meadows were horrified when Anderton Lane was re-routed through their estate last month. They say traffic has increased dramatically since the move, and they fear for their children's safety.

Town councillor David Rose, who lives at Tiddybrook, welcomed the fact that county councillor Debo Sellis had two weeks ago asked for a safety audit to be carried out — but said there had been no further action since then.

Cllr Rose said: 'I am incensed they would even consider allowing lorries to run through past children's play areas.

'One went by at the weekend and it was huge, it completely dwarfed the house.

'All they have to do is put up 20mph signs and weight restrictions, but it seems as though the county council is entrenched. Instead of saying "Okay, we made a mistake" they seem to want to make a fight out of it.'

Cllr Rose said he would push hard for the safety audit to take place as soon as possible.

A petition calling for improved signage, speed restrictions and removal of the block paved section of the road has been started and is growing steadily, he said.

Devon County Council, which is responsible for highways matters, and West Devon Borough Council, which granted the development planning consent, have both said that the estate road was always intended to be opened on to Anderton Lane, and that residents would have been able to see the site plans when they were buying their home.

Tiddybrook resident Phil Desmond, a chartered surveyor with more than 30 years' experience of planning, executing and delivering residential developments, said he had very carefully re-examined the paperwork relating to the planning consent at Tiddybrook.

Mr Desmond said: 'I don't believe there was ever an indication that the Anderton Lane route from Whitchurch to the A386 would become virtually truncated and rerouted through the development. 

'There is no doubt that buyers were reasonably able to deduce that a connection between the development and Anderton Lane was intended. 

'However, there is a raft of difference between a road connection and a road diversion, the consequences of which are far reaching, as has been demonstrated at Tiddybrook. 

'I'm sure that I am not alone in believing that I had bought into a well thought out; good quality and safe environment, only to find it now has a main road bisecting it that was not and could not have been in my reasonable contemplation at the time of purchase.' 

Mr Desmond said he was convinced the residents had a 'very real opportunity' to urge the council to correct the situation, on the basis of a 'robust planning, technical and safety argument'.