EMOTIONAL pleas for help were issued at a public meeting in Tavistock last week — it ended with one woman in tears and other residents leaving in frustration.

John Hart, the leader of Devon County Council, was in the town for the latest of his series of 'Your Community, Your Choice' meetings across Devon.

But on the night there was only one major topic raised by those attending — the ongoing issue of speeding traffic and heavy goods vehicles through the Tiddybrook estate.

Buzzard Road, the main route through Tiddybrook, was opened into Anderton Lane last year, with cars being directed through the estate to the main A386.

Since that time, residents have seen a big increase in traffic in the narrow residential road, including heavy goods vehicles. But so far, their pleas for a 20mph speed limit and signs to discourage HGVs have ended in stalemate.

Maria Trathen told Cllr Hart: 'People are speeding through — we park in the road to try and slow people down, we put our cars at risk to do that, I don't want my car to be hit, but I'd rather it was hit than a child.

'If the people of Tavistock heard that you were actually prepared to listen to us as a result of this meeting, it would be beneficial to yourselves as well as us — we need something done.'

Richard Scutt said: 'I have two-year-old twins and I am scared stiff for them. I think what we are asking for is responsible, sensible and important and I think it's about time someone listened.'

Sarah Hill, a former policewoman, said: 'I live on a side road, but whenever I enter the estate, I am always aware of the danger faced by children and elderly people, I am a responsible driver, I don't speed, yet it still feels you could be going too fast.'

David Rose said one resident had been to hospital 14 times and each time the ambulance had been forced to park on the pavement.

'It's just not acceptable and it's indicative of the problem that has been created.

'We witness large lorries driving over the pavements in an estate with a lot of young children, we are being tormented by the speed and weight of vehicles — the way that junction has been configured has put a blight on all our lives.

'We just want common sense to prevail. You say you are listening — but you are listening to defend yourselves, you are not hearing what we are saying. We need answers, we don't want to be fobbed off.

'Please do something before someone gets killed — because that's what's going to happen.'

Phil Desmond said: 'We have given you overwhelming evidence — and we have had back excuse, after excuse, after excuse.

'There is now no delineation between the development and Anderton Lane.

'You put up a sign directing all traffic through the development, vehicles can sweep straight through at 30mph and anything larger than a panel van has no choice but to do that, because it would either have to drive up over the chicane you created in the lane, or go around on the wrong side of the road, on an S-bend.

'How is it acceptable to design a road like this on a new estate? Why won't you employ the 20mph speed limit that was recommended in a safety report independently prepared by professionals?

'Everything I have had back from officers has been non-committal, deflective, evasive and sometimes offensive.'

Michael Fairall said: 'When we bought our house we were specifically told there would be a traffic calmed junction between the end of Buzzard Road and Anderton Lane — but there is none. My solicitors confirmed this — I don't think they would have got it wrong.'

And Nicky Cowen said a difficult situation had now been made even worse with the opening up of the new Drake's Trail cyclepath. She said although the path had originally been intended to go through private land at the back of the estate, problems with compulsory purchase orders meant it had been routed through the development, with a consequential increase in traffic, parked cars and cyclists.

Tavistock town councillor Sue Bailey said the county officers should go to Tiddybrook and see exactly what the residents were talking about.

And town councillor Mandy Ewings urged the county's officers to agree there and then to meet with the residents.

'Nobody wants egg on their faces, they are not asking for that, they just want people to man up and come to the table.

'If you can pledge that, they might go home happy because they have finally been listened to.'

Cllr Hart said: 'I have heard what you have said and on the basis of that I am prepared to meet with you. Let's see if we can do something between us.'

A meeting is due to take place at Tiddybrook tomorrow (Friday) at 2pm attended by Cllr Hart, head of highways Lester Wilmington, West Devon and Tavistock town councillor Sue Bailey and representatives of the residents of Tiddybrook.