Let us all act now before it is too late

I WRITE in support of your correspondents who condemn the speed of traffic on the Whitchurch Road. Although they are writing about the area half-way between Whitchurch and Tavistock, the problem exists all the way along this road. Tom Keene?s letter particularly sets out the problem but may I add what I think is one very important point. At a speed of 30mph, a child can be killed. 30mph is too fast in places. Although there is a speed limit of 20mh at certain times of day outside the school, it is frequently ignored. I would add to the problem of the speed perhaps the more important issue of aggressive driving. When travelling from Whitchurch to Tavistock, I find that no matter where I might be in the process of overtaking parked cars. those travelling in the opposite direction seem to think they have an automatic right to drive me off the road and seldom give way. Courteous driving is virtually a thing of the past. Reducing the overall speed limit might help this. Finally I would like to add that I can see no reason at all for the refuse collection which covers the area around Whitchurch School to take place between about 8.30 and 8.50 on Thursday mornings. It causes traffic hold-ups which, added to the school run parking, leads to even more aggression on the part of those who are trying to get to work. It is another accident waiting to happen. Let us all act now before it is too late. Stuart Waterworth 237 Whitchurch Road Tavistock FURTHER to David Venner?s request for information (Letter June 1), I suspect that most of us living on Chollacott Lane and for that matter the other lanes and entrances joining Whitchurch Road from the east side, have tales to tell of accidents or very near misses. It is not possible to drive out of Chollacott Lane onto Whitchurch Road without exposing several feet of bonnet before being able to see whether the road is clear. Motorists coming from the Tavistock direction are forced to stop or pull out into the oncoming traffic lane. Recently, when my wife?s car broke down as she attempted to exit Chollacott Lane it was frightening to see the number of motorists who saw the car bonnet so late that they had to execute a sudden swerve into the oncoming traffic lane. There has already been a recent accident at this junction and with the obvious increases in traffic volume and speed on the Whitchurch Road, it is certain that there will be more, and possibly the first fatality. I strongly recommend that anyone who can provide David Venner with the information he needs should write to him. John Bickley Chollacott Lane Tavistock