A CONTINUED call to scrap the controversial Whitchurch rural gateway was given an overwhelming thumbs up by West Devon Borough councillors of all political persuasions last week.

The council agreed to ask West Devon's partnership committee to restore two-way working to the single-track gateway in Whitchurch Road 'as a matter of urgency, and certainly before the next Tavistock Goose Fair'.

The borough made a similar call in February, but Cllr Roger Mathew repeated the proposal at last week's full council meeting, in the light of recent modifications to improve visibility in the area.

He said the gateway was a 'completely irrelevant experiment' and according to the county council's most recent traffic monitoring report, statistics proved it had not reduced traffic speed past Whitchurch School or cut the number of heavy lorries using the road.

Cllr Pat Warne said: 'There are a number of people still very upset about this — road rage never occurred there before — it does now.

'The grass is never cut, you still have to commit yourself to go down that chicane never knowing if you are going to have to dodge a car.'

Cllr Ted Sherrell said that despite the 30mph limit in the gateway, motorists still tended to 'drive like Schumacher' to get into a wider section of the road.

Cllr David Stapleton said the gateway was 'a nonsensical response to a strategic problem' which had caused severe knock-on effects for Anderton Lane, as drivers used the lane to avoid the gateway.

He denounced the gateway as 'ill-conceived and quite absurd'.

But some councillors felt the gateway was an improvement.

Ward member Sally Monk said Whitchurch Road was used as a 'rat-run' previously and, though she sympathised with residents in Anderton Lane, she felt the gateway was a 'vast improvement'.

Cllr Caroline Keane said it did slow down traffic and dissuade cars from using the road, though she appreciated it needed closer inspection.

And mayor of West Devon Richard Phillips, who is also a ward member for the area, said the gateway had achieved what it had been constructed for — reduced traffic and vehicle speeds.

Cllr Dick Eberlie said he had attended a meeting with the county's environment director and county councillors along with Cllr Mathew.

He said: 'We made it absolutely clear we wanted to see two-way working and that the county responds to the views of the town and parish councils and a very large number of residents who believe the existing arrangements are unsafe.'

Cllr Eberlie said it was made quite clear that the partnership committee had authority to decide the matter.

The next meeting of the partnership committee will be held on September 9.

The Whitchurch rural gateway formed part of a £26,000 package of measures including an 'urban gateway' at the Tavistock end of Whitchurch Road and a 20mph zone with flashing lights outside Whitchurch School.

It was constructed two years ago following concerns about speeding in Whitchurch Road, which were also highlighted in a Whitchurch School Ofsted inspection.