A ‘DRAMATIC’ road incident on Whitchurch Road at Grenofen has forced residents to highlight the need for a speed restriction on the narrow road.

On New Year’s Eve, it was reported a driver had lost control of a vehicle travelling along the road towards Tavistock, after it had struck a tree before going on to hit a low wall.

The incident caused concern with residents who had long campaigned for that stretch of road to have village status — an initiative which was approved by Devon County Council’s HATOC in September last year.

However, since it was given the green light by the council, residents have said that ‘nothing has been done’ to alert motorists that they were driving through a residential area and to adhere to the new speed restriction of 30mph, from 60mph.

The mile of road has six side roads, plus many properties with access directly onto the road — mostly with restricted splays.

Residents affected say that the road is in frequent use by local people, walkers and cyclists.

The call to make the road 30mph and change the area’s status into a village began last March and was organised by a group of concerned residents, including Robert Jones.

Mr Jones said the New Year’s Eve incident was one that ‘local residents had feared for some time’.

‘There are some 50 houses with access to the road where the speed limit is 60mph, yet despite warning signs to slow down because of pedestrians in the roadway, there are drivers who seem to simply ignore them.

‘I was one of the residents who voiced their concern about traffic speeding along Whitchurch Road at a meeting of the Highways committee in March 2019.

‘We were promised “Grenofen village” signs that would advise drivers they were approaching a residential area.

‘We were also assured further traffic speed monitoring would be carried out — nearly a year later we are still waiting for those promises to be fulfilled.

‘Whilst sympathising with those involved in the New Year’s Eve incident, it serves as a reminder as to what can happen on that stretch of road. The Whitchurch Road through Grenofen needs a 30mph speed limit and it needs it now.’

Devon County Council was unavailable for comment as the Times went to press.