A BOGUS 'no entry' sign placed on Howton Road near Newton Abbot is causing confusion and frustration for motorists, according to a local councillor.

Councillor Jacqueline Fry (Newton Abbot North, Reform UK) says the unauthorised sign has appeared several times since new traffic arrangements were introduced on Monday, June 22, as part of road improvement works linked to the Houghton Barton development.

The works include the temporary closure of Howton Lane to through traffic while a new route has been opened to help improve access to the area.

Cllr Fry said she had recently met with Devon County Council highways officers to inspect the diversion route and ensure all official signage was correct before reports emerged that someone had installed the fake 'no entry' sign.

‘I went out with Highways earlier this week and we drove around the whole diversion route to make sure all the signs were correct’, she said.

‘We then started getting reports that somebody is putting a 'no entry' sign on Howton Road where the new road has been opened.

‘It is causing a lot of problems.

‘It is against the law to place signs where they shouldn't be’.

She said every report results in council officers having to return to remove the sign, adding that it had reappeared again on the morning of June 26.

The councillor warned the misleading sign is creating unnecessary disruption for local residents, particularly families trying to get children to school.

‘It is causing a lot of distress for people who live in the area because they suddenly think the council has made the road no entry’, she said.

‘It is open. People should be able to drive up Howton Road into Highweek and on to Mile End Road. At the moment it remains open in both directions’.

Cllr Fry said anyone caught unlawfully placing or moving road signs could face a fine of up to £1,000.

She believes the person responsible may be acting out of frustration over traffic levels, as discussions have already taken place about making the road one-way in future.

‘It could possibly be a resident who only wants one-way traffic because they are fed up with having to reverse,’ she said.

‘I do understand their frustration, and that's why I have been in negotiations with Highways to make it one-way to relieve the pressure.

‘But you can't just take it upon yourself to move signs and cause such chaos. Most people are trying to follow the signs, but this is just sending drivers round and round in circles’.

The latest traffic arrangements came into effect on Monday, with drivers no longer able to travel through Howton Lane.

Instead, traffic is diverted via Staplehill Road towards Seale Hayne before returning along the newly-opened link road.

Referring to the new route, Cllr Fry said: ‘The road has been opened to try and make people's lives easier, so to muck about with the signs is causing chaos and much frustration’.

Howton Lane is currently closed to through traffic between its junction with the A383 Ashburton Road and Farleigh Cottages until late September while improvement works are carried out.

A signed diversion route is in place throughout the project. Initially, traffic is being diverted north of Newton Abbot via Bickington and Liverton using the A382, Staplehill Road, Perry Lane and Howton Road.

A temporary one-way system is also operating around the northern end of Howton Lane and the Seale Hayne boundary.

From around August, the diversion route is due to change, with traffic redirected south via the A383 Ashburton Road and A382 Bovey Tracey Road before reconnecting with Staplehill Road.