TEIGNBRIDGE Council executive has agreed to pay £500,000 towards the cost of a new junction onto the South Devon link road after being told that it would otherwise be dropped from the scheme.

The money will pay half the £1m cost of proposed additional slip road works at Aller junction improving access on and off the South Devon link road for residents of Aller estate and Kingskerswell and would reduce traffic through the village.

Deputy chief executive Phil Shears told the executive committee on Monday that Devon County Council was trimming the costs of the scheme, to give its funding bid a better chance of success.

Members heard that the money would either come from the New Homes Bonus or Community Infrastructure Levy.

Cllr Gordon Hook recently courted media controversy, opposing the contribution, saying that the road would mainly benefit Torbay.

Cllr Haines told the meeting that the whole area would benefit and that the public had made it clear they wanted the slip roads in.

Referring to government figures which show Torbay as one of the most deprived areas in the country, he said: 'Who are we to say we are not going to help them, because we will be helping ourselves at the same time.'

Cllr David Corney-Walker also supported the request, saying it would bring economic benefits to the whole of south Devon.

But Cllr Hook, attending the meeting as an observer, accused Devon County Council of not playing with a 'straight bat'.

He said:?'Irrespective of the merits of the scheme, Teignbridge residents have never been asked for a penny. Now out of the blue and at the 11th hour we are being asked to make a substantial contribution.'

He added: 'I cannot see what with Devon County Council stashing away reserves of over £20m in the last few months, why we are obliged to make a contribution.'

Council leader Cllr Jeremy Christophers said that the £500,000 should be seen against the total project cost of £120m-£130m.

'These roads will give proper access and improve the lives of people in the village and cut down traffic going through Penn Inn. It is absolutely the right way to be moving here.'