'EXTREMELY disappointed' is how the only member to vote against Thursday's decision to approve a series of Traffic Regulation Orders for Queen Street has described the outcome.

The South Devon Alliance's representative on Devon County Council's Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee, Cllr Janet Bradford said: 'I am extremely disappointed that the LibDems and the Conservatives voted the Queen Street proposal through - I was the only Councillor who voted against it.

'Councillor Mullone and I did a survey of the businesses in Queen Street, 42 disapproved while six approved.

'At the beginning of the process I received 25 emails from Queen Street businesses who were extremely worried about the proposals.

'We need to make trading easier, not harder or we’ll end up like Paignton, a ghost town!

'Newton Abbot Town Council, the Civic Society and the Town Manager all object to the proposals but the other Councillors did not take heed of anything we said, in fact some were on their phones while we spoke.

'Cllr Bullivant proposed the proposal as set out and Cllr Connett seconded.

'There is absolutely no evidence that anyone in Newton Abbot wants or likes it, but the Councillors yesterday [Thursday, June 1] were of the attitude that they know best.

'It seems there is a pot of money and it is going to be spent on a project  regardless whether it is good for the town or not. To be honest I was appalled at their attitude.'