MANY thanks to Alison Stephenson (Times, November 13) for highlighting West Devon planning committee's decision last week to approve the new footpath at Anderton Lane, Whitchurch, in spite of several detailed objections from nearby residents and from our local councillor, Alison Clish-Green.

The proposed new path is completely unnecessary as Redrow have already made a footpath link from the new estate to Bishopsmead at Oak Road, providing a pleasant walk to Whitchurch Primary School and Pre-School and up to Whitchurch Road. The church, playground, nursery school and Whitchurch Inn can then be easily and safely accessed via Church Lea. 

Encouraging more pedestrians to use Anderton Lane and the very narrow and pavement-less Church Hill will undoubtedly put their safety at risk, and I am at a loss to understand how the majority of the planning committee could approve this dangerous proposal even after they had a site visit to Anderton Lane recently and saw the traffic conditions for themselves.

Devon County Highways intends to install a give-way sign and single track road in Anderton Lane with no intention of finding out first whether this is what local people want or, crucially, what the effects will be — we will end up with another 'Grenofen Rural Gateway', and we all know how expensive and pointless that was!

Though narrow and obviously not ideal, Anderton Lane is actually a very important link between Whitchurch Road and Plymouth Road. Its safety would be improved if drivers could be made to keep to the 30mph speed limit, but the volume of traffic using it cannot be reduced and its width will always be restricted. It is a bus route and many other large vehicles have to use it because they have little choice.

From the town centre to Horrabridge it is the only such link road unobstructed by traffic jams, ridiculous artificial gateways or low/narrow bridges. 

Restricting traffic flow in Anderton Lane will lead to gridlock in Whitchurch and do nothing to improve road safety for anyone.

In addition, this misguided scheme is going to cost Redrow a very large amount of money which could have been used for extra facilities at Tiddy Brook Meadows or for wider community benefit.

Alison Wright

208 Whitchurch Road

Tavistock