MUCH has been written about the so-called rural gateway on the Whitchurch to Horrabridge road, but there is an underlying problem to be considered.
The reason many drivers use Whitchurch Road rather than the main A386 Plymouth Road is to avoid Tavistock's tedious impediments of right-angle turns, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings which are largely a consequence of building Stannary Bridge.
The situation would be greatly helped by having in Tavistock an inner one-way circuit directing traffic along Pixon Lane from Abbey Rise to the main Plymouth Road rather than along the residential Whitchurch Road. Recent changes have gone some way towards that.
The idea has often been suggested since at least 1981 when it was recommended in a DoE Inspector's report. When again proposed by the now defunct civic society in connection with Stannary Bridge traffic plans the county highways authority said that it would be considered if a problem arose as a consequence of the new traffic arrangement. There is a problem.
It would be interesting to hear if this proposal is being taken up by any candidates in the forthcoming elections to the county council.
Commander Ken Cook
Bellever
218 Whitchurch Road
Tavistock