HEAVY lorries and increasing volumes of traffic are 'destroying the heart of Gunnislake', according to the chairman of Calstock Parish Council.

Ian Kirk said laden lorries using the A390 through the village had increased in size and volume during recent years and caused a 'frightening' safety threat to pedestrians.

Speaking to last week's meeting of Tavistock Town Council, Mr Kirk said his council was appealing to other parishes to help put pressure on the county council about the problem.

He said: 'We have been concerned for a long time about the dangers of a lorry running away down the hill, particularly bearing in mind what happened at Lostwithiel last year.

'We also get tremendous backlogs of traffic — we feel it's destroying the heart of Gunnislake.'

Mr Kirk said the traffic problems were 'so negative' they 'almost cancelled out' the expensive enhancement works which have been carried out in the village.

Safety of pedestrians was also a worry, with a large number of students on foot at the beginning and end of the school day, said Mr Kirk.

'A major incident in the middle of the village is really quite frightening,' he said.

He said it was also 'incredibly hazardous' to drive through St Ann's Chapel.

Mr Kirk said his council had approached Cornwall County Council about the problem, which had advised speaking to other parish councils along the route — the county would then take it forward with Devon Highways.

'I am merely saying we are not happy about the potential and real hazards — we would just like your support in saying there is a problem with the A390,' he said.

Cllr Betty Batchelor agreed the road through St Ann's Chapel was dangerous and she had witnessed some 'very awkward' incidents there.

Cllr John Wright said he had 'enormous' sympathy for Calstock Parish Council and the residents of East Cornwall.

But he had great 'distrust' of Devon County Council's methods of traffic improvement, citing the Whitchurch gateway as an 'horrendous' scheme.

'I really can't believe they would be capable of coming up with a sensible solution to what I acknowledge is a real problem,' said Cllr Wright.

Cllr Caroline Keane and Cllr Judith Williams suggested greater investigations should be made of the pattern of movements of heavy lorries in the area.

And Cllr Peter Donkin recommended a survey of traffic be undertaken.

The council agreed to consider the request for support at the next meeting of the general purposes committee later this month.