A NEW £155,000 roundabout is to be created at a dangerous junction north of Okehampton, in an attempt to improve safety in the area.

The move to build the roundabout on the main A386 at Place Cross was agreed by West Devon highways and traffic orders committee at its meeting in Tavistock last week.

Councillors heard that eight recorded collisions had occurred at Place Cross between January 1999 to the end of 2002.

Local service officer Brian George said the problems were created by the skewed T-junction, with fast approaches in all directions.

?This is compounded by the fact that the flow of the A386 is interrupted, with the priority direction being from Okehampton to Fowley Cross, instead of Hatherleigh to Fowley Cross ? this causes confusion in the minds of some highway users,? said Mr George.

He told the committee the new roundabout would be similar in style to the nearby one at Fowley Cross.

The scheme would also include lighting and improved visibility ? it was hoped the work would reduce casualties by 50% in future.

?Alternatives considered were traffic lights, but they are not appropriate as it?s a rural location, and there isn?t sufficient room to accommodate another right-hand filter lane,? he told members.

Cllr Bill Cann, vice chairman of the committee, said: ?We have worked for a number of years to try and get something done here ? you need a major scheme like this, it?s brilliant.?

Cllr Dennis Bater said a roundabout was a good idea.

?It?s a very nasty spot,? he said.

Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said she remembered when a one-way system was used in the area, which created much local opposition. ?This is a far better scheme altogether,? she said.

She also asked if officers could shed any light on the whereabouts of the 18th century granite milestone at Place Cross, which had ?disappeared? during the spring.

Cllr Marsh was told efforts had been made by council staff to trace the milestone, but so far, without any success.

Engineer Paul Marshall told the committee it was hoped the road changes at Place Cross would be complete by April.