RESIDENTS of Whiddon Down are hoping a slip road to relieve the village of heavy traffic can be incorporated into major road improvements at the Merrymeet Junction on the A30.
Local people put their views forward at an open day in Whiddon Down Village Hall last Thursday and discussed details of a £4-million flyover scheme proposed by the Highways Agency.
The aim of the project is to improve safety by reducing the number and severity of accidents and overcome congestion on the A30.
County councillor Bill Cann said if the Highways Agency was spending this sort of cash on highway safety at Merrymeet, they should also consider people living in the adjacent village, who had been suffering for years from traffic congestion.
'Whiddon Down takes all the heavy vehicles from the North Tawton direction because there is no slip road onto the A30 between Okehampton and the Merrymeet Roundabout,' he said.
'Yes, a flyover will benefit those using the trunk road but not the people of Whiddon Down.'
Mr Cann said he would continue to push for a slip road and urged villagers to lobby their MP John Burnett.
Chairman of Drewsteignton Parish Council Jean Partridge said councillors appreciated there was congestion on the A30 at the roundabout and that people were not slowing down.
She said: 'The priority at the moment is being given to the problems at Merrymeet but we just want consideration to be given to diverting the heavy traffic coming from North Tawton away from Whiddon Down.
'One of the difficulties is that the two schemes would be dealt with by two different agencies but to do them together would make sense.'