'WHAT are our elected representatives doing?' asks Ray Hurle (Letters November 30) about the works on the Grenofen road. I will try to answer him.

Let it be understood it is Devon County Council that is responsible for improving our roads. No one else: and it decreed some time ago that changes in West Devon should be made on the advice of their expert engineers by a small group of county and borough councillors in what is called the partnership committee. This gives the borough a voice, but not a decisive one, while town and parish councils have no voice at all.

The experts have all along advised that this Rural Gateway is the best answer to speeding in Whitchurch (highlighted on your front page). The scheme was put through following a public outcry and petition for greater safety outside the school, so a majority of partnership committee members accepted the arguments and last September decided a trial for one year.

Some of us have taken a very different line and, among others, I have asked the question of safety be looked at again before Christmas. We see plenty of evidence to show the new arrangement is as dangerous as it is ugly and if it must stay we insist that local people and the town and parish councils must be properly consulted. We must be sure what is really needed by those genuinely affected before a final decision is taken.

R F Eberlie

West Devon Borough Councillor

LETTERS concerning the calming scheme on the Whitchurch/Grenofen Road have been numerous, with complaints about inconvenience and appearance.

Surely safety should be the prime consideration. The calming scheme has worked. It has stopped the unnecessary traffic racing along dangerously to rejoin the A386.

Even 20 years ago this road was considered one of the most dangerous in Devon and now with the increase in cars, large lorries and buses using this road as a racing by-pass traffic incidents were happening almost on a weekly basis.

If a calming scheme had not been implemented other deaths and serious accidents would have been imminent.

Jane Spencer

Ashlands Farm Grenofen

I AM saddened to see that drivers are still speeding past Whitchurch School.

Whatever traffic calming is introduced there will always be drivers who are intent only on getting to their destination as quickly as possible with no regard for others. Unfortunately, it is usually the good, careful drivers who drive slowly through traffic calming.

Even speed humps have little impact as the impatient drivers can be seen slowing down over the bump and then roaring on to the next bump. This style of driving can make life very unpleasant for residents nearby.

I would like to answer some of the comments from your readers about the rural gateway. The whole of Whitchurch Road has become a rat-run. The rural part between Whitchurch and Horrabridge more closely resembled a race-track than the pretty rural lane it used to be.

The decision was supported by Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent county and borough councillors to try to reduce the volume and speed of traffic on the road with a series of measures.

These are designed to allow the careful driver to use the road, while deterring the larger and faster vehicles.

I do not pretend it is perfect, but the rural gateway was designed to be a low cost scheme, as rural as possible, with the hope that the newly created wide verges could have been planted with wild flowers and become an attractive entrance to the town. This was foiled by the irresponsible drivers who drove over the verges and created a sea of mud. This necessitated extra expense and the introduction of the 'stone row' — as seen on many verges on Dartmoor.

Hopefully, the verges and banks will now be left in peace to grow, and become the attractive feature planned. The intention has always been that the effectiveness of the scheme will be reviewed after 12 months, but it really needs that time to see how it is working.

Anecdotally, the volume and speed of traffic has gone down, but a proper review will take place next year.

Finally, if everyone drove with due consideration for all other road users there would be no need for traffic calming anywhere. It is Devon County Council's aim to make us all responsible for our own actions. Please drive past someone else's child or house as you would drive past your own.

Gretta Madigan

County councillor, Yelverton Rural

Chair West Devon Partnership Committee

I AM writing as a resident of the Grenofen end of Whitchurch Road.

As my children and others from our small estate were growing up we wrote to our local MP (then Emma Nicholson) to ask for a speed reduction on the main Plymouth Road at Grenofen and the Whitchurch Road at Grenofen.

We were refused as, apparently, traffic does not exceed the speed limit of 60mph.

When asked last year how I felt about changes to Whitchurch Road I and many others were pleased and suggested a 30mph limit from Horrabridge to Whitchurch which would include street lighting.

Instead we have a dangerous road which is difficult for ordinary drivers let along agricultural vehicles to use.

Horse riders won't use it because of the gravel that can damage horses' feet. Cyclists carrying children or any heavy pack will find it equally dangerous and difficult.

All hedgerows are damaged and therefore would be disturbed, all in the name of saving the environment — not if you are a badger or a bird.

The Whitchurch village boundary now seems to have moved into Grenofen. I have noticed and have been told that most serious cyclists take the main Plymouth Rod as it's a better route.

So Sustrans, did you get any input from those cyclists? A less dangerous route for Sunday cyclists is through Whitchurch village past the pub and across the moors to Horrabridge, then 40mph limit on this road. Listen to Tom Greeves please.

Paula Goddard

4 Branson Park

Grenofen