CONTRACTORS are bearing the brunt of public criticism to the controversial Bedford Square enhancement scheme.

As diggers began ripping up the surface of the Square this week, Tessa Jennings, engineer in charge of the work, said the men were 'thoroughly fed up' from the first day on site.

'They are obviously out there all the time and getting it all the time,' she said, adding it was difficult to keep morale high in the circumstances.

The contractors themselves confined their comments to the weather as they levered up granite in teeming rain.

Chairman of Tavistock working group Harry Pearson said he was 'amazed' to think people might take their views out on the workmen.

'I'm absolutely appalled that people should take this childish attitude to people employed to do a job. It's abysmal,' he said.

West Devon Borough councillor Michael Pithouse, who protested at the introduction of road changes in Duke Street, is planning another demonstration this Saturday morning.

'I will be doing a silent protest with a placard,' he said.

'People who wanted enhancement aren't getting it — people who don't want the town strangled are getting it strangled.'

At Tuesday's meeting of the town council, members agreed a motion from Councillor Roger Mathew objecting to proposed informal crossings in Drake Road and West Street and the two-minute maximum waiting time in Bedford Square dropping-off point.

Councillor Norma Woodcock thought the crossings were unnecessary. 'I would say it is contagion spreading — I really do think this is yet another turgid spread,' she said.

Members agreed a five-minute waiting time would be more appropriate for picking-up/dropping off in the square and that the complete bay should be available.

Mr Mathew has also complained about the timing of the traffic orders.

'It seems a curious anomaly that people have until March 12 to send their formal objections when the work began on March 1,'he said.

'All the little details are now crawling out of the woodwork.'

But John Halliday, local services group officer said the notice had been published at the first opportunity.

'The decision to go ahead with the work was taken at County Hall early in February therefore we put in the order as quickly as possible after that,' he said.

The notices from the county council solicitor appeared in the Tavistock Times Gazette two weeks ago and can be read in the library.

The enhancement scheme was approved after public consultations in May last year and a further questionnaire during the autumn which revealed support for the scheme, although a privately-funded poll showed substantial opposition from respondents.

Work on the project should be finished in July.

To ease difficulties over the Easter holiday period, the site will be cleared and all work stopped from March 27 to April 11. Work will also stop over the Bank Holiday weekends.