BURRATOR parish councillors have raised concerns that a running road race around Burrator Reservoir could prove ‘chaotic’ for local residents.

The Daylight Burrator 10K will attract 500 runners to complete 1.66 laps around the lake on Sunday, May 22. The race is being run under UK Athletics rules and not being run for charity.

The parish council objected to the race being held as it means the road around the reservoir will be closed and could cause disruption to residents of Sheepstor. They also objected as it feels excluding access to the reservoir for a commercially based sporting venture is wrong.

Cllr Scrivener said: ‘If this race goes ahead I fear there will be anger and confusion on the day when others will arrive, completely unaware that they have been denied access to Burrator Reservoir so that some private commercial sporting venture can take place.

‘On a typical Sunday morning in May you can expect to see dozens of cyclists turning up at the dam, carloads of moorland ramblers, families out for a walk, people exercising dogs, horse riders enjoying the lanes, mums and dads pushing prams, queues at the ice cream van, churchgoers driving towards Sheepstor for the Sunday service, and the odd tractor or two. This could be a chaotic morning.’

Devon County Council has granted a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) to allow for the road to be closed on the morning of the race.

A Devon County Council Highways spokesman said he did not consider that the limited road closure will cause a significant adverse effect on local residents and farms.

He told the parish council: ‘I also do not accept that there will be a disproportionate impact on the desire of the public to enjoy the area and as such do not see this was a sound and justifiable reason to deny the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order.’