Council's Plans For Traffic Lights At Westleigh is 'Barmy'

Devon County Council's decision to install traffic signals at the Westleigh Junction is just plain wrong says Torridge councillor and Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman Adam Symons.

His comments follow news that the County Council has agreed to spend £660,000 installing traffic lights and creating new lane structures at the controversial junction.

Symons, who would prefer to see a roundabout, quotes a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which claims a 40% decrease in all accidents and a 90% drop in fatal ones when traffic lights are replaced by a roundabout and argues that with lower maintenance costs, the latter is also a more cost effective solution for local tax payers.

"The decision the County Council made is wrong. I hope as many members of the public as possible write to their county councillor to tell them so," Cllr Symons stated.

But what do you think?

Lights or a roundabout?

I would have agreed with Cllr Symons except I've just now taken my dog to the vet (she got a thick stick stuck in her back teeth) and I struggled to cross the roundabout at Roundswell, Barnstaple because the vegetation has now grown so high you can't even see the road opposite, let along any cars approaching.

Which might suggest it's only well-kept roundabouts that are safer than lights!!