I AM aware that you have published a great deal of correspondence regarding the speed reduction arrangement at Whitchurch, via the so-called 'Gateway'.

Last Thursday evening, there was a serious accident on the A386 along the straight near the Halfway House. Police obviously had to arrange a diversion on the back road so that traffic could by-pass the accident,which meant motorists wanting to enter or leave Tavistock had to do so via the Whitchurch Gateway

Due to the amount of traffic being diverted in both directions, the inevitable congestion

occurred at the gateway with little or no traffic movement possible in either direction. Motorists were becoming agitated and frustrated, it took me at least 20 minutes to pass through the 'New Improved Gateway' and then I realised that the two major routes into Tavistock were blocked, making it very difficult for any emergency vehicles wanting to access the town from the northern direction.

Surely this is a design oversight. If it were not for the willingness of some motorists to place their vehicles on the adjoining embankment, thoroughfare via this gateway would not have been possible at all.

This whole situation arose because of a serious accident on the A386, it is my opinion that another will take place along the gateway in due course, which of course, no one wants.

I agree, speed needs to be reduced, but sleeping policemen would have had the same effect, would have been much less expensive and still permitted traffic-flow in both directions.

Surely, these are good enough reasons for a slice of humble pie and a rethink.

Sharon Coker

Downland

Manor Estate

Horrabridge