A secret ballot has resulted in Kingsteignton Parish Council coming out against the proposed £70,000 traffic lights scheme for Exeter Road. Three councillors voted in favour and eight against. Cllr Mike Walters abstained, citing his membership of the highways and traffic orders committee, the influential committee that is expected to make the final decision today. Adrian Full, the baker whose business could be affected by loss of parking should the scheme be approved, has also won the right to express his fears to the committee meeting. The parish vote was taken at a special meeting of the full council on Wednesday night after a heated session on March 1, during which the chairman, Cllr Jill Morris, refused to bow to a county council request for a decision. Several members of the council had expressed concern about the scheme, but had to balance that against losing the much-needed pedestrian crossing if the scheme was rejected. Cllr Morris said after the meeting that she was pleased with both the outcome and the positive contribution made by parishioners. 'They behaved really well and seemed pleased that we were supporting them,' she said. 'However, we are only consultees in the process and I made it very clear that if the county council decided to press ahead with the scheme they still have the power to override our decision.' Resident Joe Williams, who makes a point of attending most council meetings, was also pleased. 'It feels like the council actually listened to us and took on board what we were saying,' he said. Dave Lewis, owner of Kings Fry fish and chip shop in Ley Lane, also praised the parish council. 'I very much welcome what they've done. I think they've had to struggle with their decision owing to insufficient information from the county council,' he said. His message to today's committee meeting was clear. 'The county highways engineer, Graham Heath, has already admitted at the last public meeting that the plan wasn't all-singing and all-dancing, well, it should be,' he said. 'If the double yellow lines and traffic lights go in, what will happen if the queuing traffic gets back as far as the residents' parked cars? 'With something as important as this, if it isn't spot on then you shouldn't press ahead with it.'
