AS SOMEONE who regularly uses the road from Horrabridge through Whitchurch to Tavistock, may I add my views to those of others on the recently constructed Grenofen-Whitchurch 'Urban Gateway'?
No only is it badly sited, it has also changed an attractive stretch of road into a dangerous eyesore, and has done nothing to help the residents of Whitchurch.
Whenever I have seen similar schemes elsewhere the edges of the road have been clearly defined with kerbstones and reflective posts, making the passing areas obvious, drains have been added to take away surface water, and the signs have clearly indicated who has right of way. None of this has been done at Whitchurch.
The recent rain effectively demolished the new 'verges', spreading mud etc, but positively lethal for motorcyclists and cyclists. As for that awful footpath and the white lines which, more-or-less, follow the contours of this masterpiece — words fail me!
Desecration of a road in this way would not be tolerated on Dartmoor.
Having said all that I do understand the concern and frustration of the Whitchurch residents, but this new gateway helps no one.
So what to do? The road between Anderton Lane and Pixon Lane could be made one way, inconvenient but effectively cutting the traffic flow in half.
Access could be restricted to residents, buses and deliveries only, from, say, 8am to 6pm. Not impossible, it has been done elsewhere, though mainly in town centres.
Whitchurch is a microcosm of a national problem — solutions are not easy and require radical thinking and compromises by those concerned. One thing is for certain, Urban Gateways, especially monstrosities like that at Whitchurch are not the answer.
John Deards
2 Walkham Cottages
Horrabridge
WELL said, Ian Kilpatrick in last week's letters column. Speed humps are what we need and lots of them. This would, I believe, solve the traffic problems experienced by residents along the Whitchurch Road.
Traffic speed would be reduced, traffic volume would be reduced. Staying on the A386 would be a quicker route, especially for the late night boy racers and the like. (My car sustains more damage overnight than during the day.) So safer for people, pets and property.
Do the powers that be honestly consider that a 20mph restriction by the school will be effective? About as effective as the current 30mph is I should think.
Come on, we've all paid our council tax so how about spending some on a scheme designed to benefit us? In my experience a good title will help in getting a scheme up and running. How about the Millennium Motor Management Initiative.
Ian Brooks
235 Whitchurch Road
Tavistock