A FLYOVER at Whiddon Down is one of three 'urgent' road schemes in the South West being put forward for Government Funding.

The bid by the South West Regional Transport Group is to take advantage of a fund available for urgent schemes which the Government wants to start before its full ten year transport programme begins.

Cllr Noel Cartwright, the West Devon Borough Council member of the Transport Group, said he argued strongly for a flyover to replace the Merrymeet Roundabout because there had been too many accidents there.

Over the past five years there have been 19 accidents and two fatalities at the site.

'If you travel south from Glasgow, heading towards Cornwall, Merrymeet roundabout at Whiddon Down is the first roundabout you come to after 470 miles of duel carriageway,' said Cllr Cartwright.

'Despite warning signs people do not slow down and I have witnessed a couple of accidents there myself.

'The overall safety of the road needs to be increased and if obstructions like this roundabout can be removed all the better.'

Mr Cartwright, who is a member of the borough council's Liberal Democrat Group, said the Government announced last July a ten year plan for transport which would start with a major study into an integrated transport scheme for all regions of the country.

'There is, however, a certain amount of money for urgent schemes that the Government wants to get going before the full ten-year programme begins,' he said.

'A flyover scheme for Whiddon Down is going forward to transport minister John Prescott as a priority and I now think there is a good chance there will be an early decision from the Government to go ahead.'

The other two schemes put forward by South West Regional Transport Group for funding are a bypass of the A38 at Dobwalls, Cornwall and improvements to the A417/419 at Nettleton Bottom to Air Balloon in Gloucestershire.

Chairman of Drewsteignton Parish Council Jean Partridge said the council had been pressing for road improvements for some time in the Whiddon Down area.

'It would certainly help matters to have a flyover there and we would support any improvements to the roundabout, she said.

'I would like to see the road through Whiddon Down from North Tawton included in any scheme because articulated lorries currently take up both sides of the carriageway.'