A road dubbed a dangerous 'rat-run' by Whitchurch residents is to be the subject of a £20,000 safety package.

Measures to reduce speed and traffic on Whitchurch Road include an 'urban gateway' being built at its northern end.

This would narrow the 'open vista' effect on the approach from Dolvin Road and encourage drivers to use the A386 Plymouth road.

It means Whitchurch Road will be narrowed by repositioning kerbs, the pelican crossing signs will be moved inwards and a coloured surface applied to the road to distinguish it from the A386.

The three-point traffic management scheme for the road was agreed by West Devon partnership committee in Okehampton on Monday.

The committee agreed an advisory 20mph speed limit should be promoted in the vicinity of Whitchurch Primary School, using warning signs linked to new school flashing lights.

The rural section of Whitchurch Road between Grenofen and the southern end of Tavistock will be reduced to single track with passing places by extending the grass verges at a cost of £8,000 — the county hopes Sustrans will contribute to the cost as the National Cycle Network runs along the road.

Mike Parnell, Devon County Council's local service officer, said: 'The urban gateway is about trying to give a visual impact — hopefully it will encourage people to use the main road.'

He said the 'urban gateway' and school zone should be in place before the end of the financial year, but the narrowing of the road could not take place until funds were made available.

Cllr Gretta Madigan said she had lived at the Horrabridge end of Whitchurch Road for 18 years and traffic had got 'worse and worse' along the entire length of road.

'I have been bombarded by people trying to get speeds reduced,' she said.

Ricci Achillini, headteacher at Whitchurch School said he was 'delighted' by the news.

'That is excellent. We have been working with local councillors for several months now and I am very pleased they have made so much progress so rapidly.'

Mr Achillini said the school would keep a 'watching brief' on the situation, which had been highlighted in the school's Ofsted report.

But Roger Mathew, mayor of Tavistock, claimed the measures to reduce speed and manage traffic in Whitchurch road were 'doomed to failure at great public expense'.

Cllr Mathew said he thought people over-reacted to perceived traffic problems in Whitchurch Road.

'Quite frankly, I think altering the colour of the tarmac is a bit of a waste of money — the assertions of the proponents of this scheme just don't stack up with my own observations,' he said.

And Cllr Nick Waterhouse said encouraging vehicles off the Whitchurch Road would have a knock-on effect in Plymouth Road.

'I don't think it's in the interest of traders to reduce the capacity of that road and offload onto the A386 into Tavistock,' he said.

l The committee also agreed a mini roundabout should be built at the Westbridge end of Pixon Lane in Tavistock, allowing motorists to turn right out of the lane with more safety and minimum delay.