A NEW £235,000 roundabout could be built at Gulworthy Cross if councillors give the thumbs up at a meeting being held today (Thursday).

The roundabout is being recommended to improve safety at the crossroads, which has been the site of accidents, including one fatality, in the past.

Brian George, local service officer for Devon County Council, is due to tell members of West Devon?s highways and traffic orders committee (HATOC) that the roundabout, once constructed, could reduce accidents at Gulworthy Cross by 50%. Its construction is part of a package of measures being suggested by Mr George.

He is also to recommend that the minor road south of the school be closed at its junction with the main A390, 430 metres west of the Harvest Home pub.

In addition, heavy goods vehicles over seven-and-a-half tonnes will be prohibited from using the B3362 at Spring Hill in Tavistock.

The new route for HGVs will be from the crossroads at Carr?s Garage in Lamerton, along the B3257 to the new roundabout at Gulworthy Cross and along the A390 to Tavistock.

Alternative methods of improving safety in the area included use of traffic lights, filter lanes and a large roundabout. But traffic lights were not considered suitable, given the rural area and traffic flow ? the other suggestions were considered too expensive.

The HATOC, which consists of county councillors Roy Connelly, Bill Cann, Gretta Madigan and Christine Marsh and borough councillors Dennis Bater and Roger Mathew, will consider the proposals at its meeting in Okehampton at 2.30pm.