THE correspondence in the Tavistock Times Gazette (April 13) is interesting and obviously reflects conflicting views.
My view is one of complete amazement and bafflement at the road works that have been carried out. I have been to every continent on this planet (except Antartica) and I have never seen such an unnecessary waste of public money for seemingly no purpose at all.
The traffic, having traversed the chicane en route from Tavistock/Whitchurch to Horrabridge, puts its foot down on the accelerator and speeds even faster than before through Grenofen in order to make up lost time. The same is true in reverse.
The real problem linked to the road works concerns safety. This new arrangement is causing confusion and, confusion usually creates anger.
Anger cultivates aggression which, usually, leads to accidents and even worse.
Newly installed plastic bollards have been smashed to the ground, grass verges over-run and most of the very good quality turfs have disappeared.
There is now a paved footpath provided for pedestrians who do not exist. I have never seen anyone walk along this stretch of road.
This stretch of road should be reverted to its original state and a completely new and open review of all the options should take place.
I suggest that a solution might be found if a true, 'efficiently enforced' 30mph limit between Whitchurch and Horrabridge was applied, together with a four-tonne limit for HGVs.
It does not matter whether the funding for the works comes from central funds or anywhere else — in the end it is us, the ratepayers who provide the money, whether direct or indirect — we pay! In view of the recently announced rate increases perhaps we should all be a bit more interested in what goes on around us.
Brian Willis
Grenofen