TRAFFIC officers have agreed to look at alternative sites for a crossing on Plymouth Road in Tavistock after fears that residents would lose vital car parking space.
At a meeting in the town on Monday chaired by West Devon MP John Burnett, officers from Devon County Council heard concerns from some of the 64 Westbridge Cottages residents, who park on the A386.
The council is proposing a zebra crossing outside the Texaco Garage on the grounds of pedestrian safety after 15 accidents in the area over the past six years — but the new facility would leave only 20 legal car parking spaces.
Local service officer for the council Graham Atkins said the problem for pedestrians was made worse by the fact that drivers mounted the kerb when they parked, causing an obstruction for elderly people and parents with pushchairs.
He said the local authority had ducked the issue for a number of years and not enforced the no parking legislation in that area because of the difficult situation facing home-owners.
Although a survey revealed pedestrian movements across Plymouth Road were comparatively low at the moment they were looking at the wider aspirations of the community and guidance from the Department of Transport.
The meeting was told the Texaco Garage was the best site for a crossing because it was the most desired place to cross and the visibility from both sides was good for approaching traffic. But residents suggested a crossing nearer Safeway would be a safer option as the proposed site was next to several exits onto Plymouth Road.
Resident Jim Blower said a crossing would only encourage children walking to school via the underpass to cross another busy road when they did not have to.
Traffic officers had been looking for an alternative parking area for the residents of Westbridge Cottages and Grenville Drive was the only sensible option at the present time.
But residents were not keen on this option after attacks of vandalism on cars in that area. They asked if an allotment site near the cottages could be looked into as it was once designated as a parking area by the borough council.
It was also suggested that if the wide pavement outside the garage was reduced, cars could park legally on the road.
Mr Atkins said he and his colleagues would go back to the drawing table and look again at installing a crossing nearer Safeway, but he did have concerns about it.
Mr Burnett said it had been a very constructive meeting where everyone had gained a lot of valuable information and it was accepted by all sides that safety was paramount in this situation.