Cost-cutting measures designed to make the proposed £130 million Kingskerswell bypass more attractive to government will deliver traffic chaos according to campaigners pressing for alternatives.

To date supporters of the South Devon Link Road have failed to convince transport chiefs that the scheme represents value for money.

As a result, engineers for Devon County Council have drafted several changes including the omission of a new road bridge over the rail line near the Barn Owl pub.

All vehicles heading out from Kingskerswell towards Newton Abbot would be diverted over the existing narrow bridge on Aller Road before joining the new carriageway.

Lorries coming from Stoneycombe Quarry and the Sunlight Laundry would share the same route.

According to the Kingskerswell Alliance the result would be misery for drivers.

'Every vehicle leaving Kingskerswell for Newton Abbot, that's buses, cars and lorries, would have to use a road which in places is only wide enough for one vehicle,' said chairman Ken Pegden.

'Omitting the bridge is only a suggestion at this stage but Devon County Council has costed it so clearly it is being looked at seriously.'

Other proposed cost-savings include reducing the cross section of the Penn Inn flyover, not dualling the lower section of Hamelin Way, omitting street lights and leaving out south facing slip roads at Aller Junction.

Following a public meeting on Monday night called by the Alliance, Mr Pegden renewed his call for alternatives.

They include removing the traffic lights at Jury's Corner, introducing 'tidal flow' traffic controls on the A380, a tunnel instead of a flyover at Penn Inn, improving the Kerswell Gardens junction, more buses and trains sharing a timetable and the reopening of Kingskerswell Station.

'These are serious proposals by Steer Davies Gleave, transport consultants who would not put their name to anything they thought wouldn't work,' said Mr Pegden.

'What's more they could be introduced incrementally over a period of time to see how each works and to spread the cost.'

A spokesman for Devon County Council declined to comment on the proposed cost-savings saying only: 'We will be reporting to cabinet in July on the scheme proposals.'