SAFETY fears related to a traffic boom on one of Tavistock?s major approach routes has prompted the thumbs up for a new improvement scheme ? but sparked warnings of knock-on congestion elsewhere in the town. A mini roundabout is to be built at the bottom of Tavistock?s Spring Hill, after West Devon?s highways and traffic orders committee (HATOC) gave the scheme the green light at its meeting last week. The roundabout is being constructed as part of a planning agreement reached by West Devon Borough Council earlier this year, relating to a major housing development at the Manor, on the north west side of Tavistock. The road improvement aims to address the need for a safer route to school, given the predicted large increase in traffic which will use Spring Hill as a result of the development. But Cllr Roger Mathew, one of West Devon Borough Council?s representatives on HATOC, claimed the scheme was ?way over the top? in dealing with the traffic issue. Cllr Mathew said he was ?ambivalent? about the scheme, mainly because of the effect of proposed build-outs and a central island in the West Street approach to the roundabout. He said: ?To narrow the road is likely to cause knock-on effects further back in the town centre. ?I don?t have any objection to the general thrust of the scheme, but I don?t like those build-outs and I can?t approve the scheme in that form ? restrictions of the capacity of that junction are undesirable because of those knock-on effects ? I think it?s way over the top.? But Cllr Gretta Madigan said safety of pedestrians had to be the prime concern. She said: ?It would be nice to think that some people living in the new area could walk sometimes, and to cross the road in that area is quite difficult. I think those islands are essential to make it easier for people to cross the road.? Cllr Roy Connelly said his main concern was the amount of traffic the new development at The Manor would generate. Cllr Bill Cann said the road was quite wide at the junction and an island for pedestrians was essential. ?Otherwise you?re going to have a problem,? he warned. Local services officer Brian George told the committee the islands ensured there was as little actual road for pedestrians to cross as possible. He said: ?If the island wasn?t there, cars may park where you want people to cross. ?We are only losing about one car parking space ? with any other arrangement, a zebra crossing, for example, you are talking about quite a few parking spaces.? The mini roundabout is part of a package of proposals relating to the Manor development. They include improved footpaths through Treetops estate and a new section of footway between Spring Hill and Ford Street. Once a proposed new roundabout has been constructed at Gulworthy Cross, the existing lorry route will be altered, reducing heavy goods vehicle traffic on Ford Street, Spring Hill and through Lamerton. The scheme will be paid for by Manor developers Wimpey and Westbury Homes, as a condition of planning consent.
