ANGRY West Devon villagers are petitioning the Highways Agency to put their homes back on the map. The villages of South Zeal, Chagford, Drewsteignton, Sticklepath and Whiddon Down were all signposted from the A30 before alterations to the Merrymeet roundabout which began in November 2005. Now there is nothing on the main road to show they exist. At present, only Moretonhampstead, Hittisleigh, and Winkleigh — all some distance from Merrymeet — are signed on the A382 turn-off, with Bodmin and Launceston sign-posted straight on. Spokesperson for the Highways Agency Robin Miller said: 'When there was a roundabout at Merrymeet there were more places for road signs. Now that the road runs straight through there's less opportunity for places to be signed. And there's a rule that no more than six places can be listed on a single road sign.' He added that Moretonhampstead, Hittisleigh and Winkleigh had been chosen to be signed on the basis of their size. But Conservative county councillor for Hatherleigh and Chagford James McInnes said the lack of signs to the Dartmoor villages was having an impact on everyone in the area. 'Even regular travellers are finding themselves accidentally missing the turn-off and ending up on the other side of Okehampton,' he said. The problem is having the most severe effect on business in the area. Cllr McInnes said: 'B and Bs and hotels in areas such as Chagford and Drewsteignton have customers coming from all around the world — those people just can't find the villages any more. It's having a huge impact.' Chairman of Chagford and District Business Association Chris Webber agreed: 'Chagford is the third busiest commercial town in West Devon and its businesses are heavily reliant on visitors,' he said. 'Gidleigh Park, for instance, is one of the best hotels in the country but visitors can't find it anymore. 'It's nonsensical that the town is being treated with such indifference. All we're asking for is eight letters on a signpost.' He added that if the aim of the new signage was to decrease traffic congestion on the A382 then work should be concentrated instead on improving the road. Resident manager at Gidleigh Park Sue Kendall said many of their guests had missed the junction completely. 'We're shocked that Chagford doesn't seem important enough to put on the map. It's an historic Stannary town, it's the gateway to the North Moor, and it's got one of the only two-Michelin-starred country house hotels in Britain,' she said. In South Zeal, Paul Lucas, landlord of the Oxenham Arms — well known as one of Devon's most historic pubs, said that since the sign to the village was taken down he had lost £12,500 of turnover. 'I've had customers ringing me to say they've been driving up and down the A30 looking for South Zeal, and now they're giving up and want to cancel their booking.' The parish of South Tawton, in which South Zeal is situated, has organised a letter-writing campaign to the Highways Agency, asking that the signs be changed. Around 50 letters have already been posted, but clerk to the parish council Peter Brotherton said he is keen for more people affected by the junction signs to write and express their views. He has been promised a review of the current situation, which will involve parties from the Highways Agency, the borough and county council, and Parson Brinckerhoff — the designers of the junction — and stressed: 'It's important that local views are brought before that panel.' Parish councillor for Sticklepath Paul Gray said there was also anger in that village: 'We've just disappeared — it's like we've dropped off the atlas.' He is concerned that the pubs and shop in the village will feel serious effects through the summer months, if the usual influx of walkers do not turn off for North Dartmoor at Merrymeet. He admitted that the new sign to Winkleigh, Hittisleigh and Moretonhampstead might help HGV drivers, but said it did nothing for locals. Anyone wishing to support the campaign to signpost the villages from the A30 should write to Andrew Alcorn, project manager at the Highways Agency, at: The Highways Agency, Temple Quay House, Tudor Square, Temple Quay, Bristol. Copies of a ready-prepared letter can also be collected from the village store in South Zeal or from the Beacon villages website at http://www.south-zeal.co.uk">www.south-zeal.co.uk
