EARLY this year we, like many others, were encouraged that a majority of West Devon and Tavistock councillors were opposed to the continuance of the 'gateway' on the Whitchurch-Grenofen road.
Our only frustration was that a formal decision had to be delayed until the meeting of the partnership committee in June.
Now we are told (Times, June 6) that an ad hoc decision to modify the 'gateway' was agreed by Messrs Kilpatrick, Smyly and Cllr Roy Connelly at meetings with officers of the County Environment Directorate, before the partnership committee met on June 10.
Although we appreciate the efforts of these local campaigners, we are dismayed that yet more public money has been wasted on this farcical scheme.
Those who have agreed to keeping the 'gateway' have, in our opinion, caved in to the self-interest of the road engineers who benefit from more money being channelled their way for highly fashionable (but in this instance useless) 'traffic calming'.
We urge that commonsense will prevail at the next meeting of the partnership committee in three months' time, and that the Whitchurch-Grenofen road will be restored to its previous state as an attractive rural route, unencumbered by frivolous but expensive earthworks, stone posts and signs which serve no useful purpose in slowing traffic along Whitchurch Road and which have been recognised by the chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority as having 'environmental failings'.
Tom Greeves
Chairman
The Dartmoor Society