PUBLIC responses to a consultation on traffic issues and parking in Tavistock will be used to help shape future traffic management proposals in the town.

A public exhibition and online consultation was held by the Tavistock Traffic Management Partnership in October, covering everything from parking restrictions to cycle parking.

The partnership has representatives from Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Town Council, Tavistock Business Improvement District, Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, the Police and Fire and Rescue Service. Its aims are to bring together the community and all stakeholders to identify and review key traffic management aims.

The feedback from the consultation is being used to inform the development of a traffic management plan.

Ninety-four per cent of the respondents welcomed proposals to reduce the number of signs in the town. Obstructive parking was also highlighted as a major problem in a number of areas, with 87% in favour of a traffic regulation order to tackle the problem.

The county council is currently planning to advertise an order to prevent obstructive parking later this year. It will also be carrying out a phased scheme to declutter the town centre by removing more than 50 redundant signs and improving some other signs.

Cllr Debo Sellis, Devon County Councillor for Tavistock and chair of the traffic management partnership, said: 'This consultation has provided a comprehensive look at all traffic matters in Tavistock and people in the town have played an important part by offering a range of suggestions.

'We want to make the most of the town's World Heritage Site status and this will start with the removal of signs to de-clutter the town centre.

'Another important issue is finding car parking areas, given the fact that we may well be seeing 750 new dwellings as outlined in the West Devon Borough Council Core Strategy contained in the Local Development Framework up to 2026, so there is much work to do.

'My sincere thanks go to all the partners for their time and commitment to this work and I look forward to continuing and progressing plans.'

The consultation revealed that 69% of respondents backed the idea of park and cycle, or park and walk schemes, as well as traffic management measures such as one-way systems and speed cushions. Longer term suggestions, which included park and ride, and the possible introduction of residents' permit parking were supported by 70%.

Other issues which were raised and are being investigated include improving pedestrian crossing in Drake Road, improving visitor information in car parks and increasing car sharing.