HIGHWAYS chiefs have revealed they are willing to take a second look at a controversial road junction on the outskirts of Tavistock — if they get more evidence that it is dangerous.

Residents in Mary Tavy are calling for Devon County Council to introduce a 40mph speed limit into the village from the Tavistock end over fears that a serious accident is waiting to happen at a concealed junction with the A386.

The junction, which emerges out onto the main road next to the Mary Tavy Inn, leads to the village primary school and has been the scene of minor shunts and near misses, including one where a lorry jacknifed.

It is concealed by a rise in the road from the Tavistock direction, which means drivers are entitled to approach it at speeds of up to 60mph before hitting a 30mph speed limit in the village itself.

A Mary Tavy Parish Council drive to get a 40mph zone installed from before the junction was turned down by the county council in the same week that the lorry jacknifed, which risked causing a major incident.

Parish councillors launched a petition calling for the 40mph zone — similar to the one already in operation at the other end of the village, which residents are flocking to sign.

Clerk Katherine Anness said the council would also welcome evidence from villagers about the frequency of any accidents at or near the junction to help bolster their case for the zone.

She said copies of the petition, at Mary Tavy Primary School, the village’s post office and stores and the Mary Tavy Inn, had already received a substantial amount of support from residents.

She added: ‘The petition is going well, but if anybody has any evidence of incidents at the junction, we would like to receive it. They can contact us on [email protected]

‘The petition doesn’t have a closing date — it is open-ended so as many people as possible can sign it.’

Devon County Council had turned down the original application for a 40mph zone because it was felt there had not been enough serious accidents at the junction to justify it.

But the county council confirmed it would consider another bid for the safety measure if more evidence came forward which would cause them to change their minds.

A spokesman said: ‘The site has been through the Speed Compliance Action Review Forum (SCARF) process with the police which reviews a range of issues, including prevailing speeds, road alignment and character, traffic flow, potential hazards as well as collision injury stats over a three-five year period.

‘The previous SCARF review deemed no action was necessary, but we do sometimes revisit areas after a suitable period if there is evidence that circumstances have significantly changed.’

The campaign has been backed by local county councillor Philip Sanders, who said not all accidents, if not involving injury, were reported to the police.