NEW speed restrictions for a notorious stretch of the A381 outside newton Abbot, responsible for six deaths, have at last been given the go ahead by the county council.

The 40mph limit, which will be put in place at Ogwell Cross and run to meet the current restrictions at Ipplepen, is scheduled to be put in place within eight weeks.

Abbotskerswell Parish Council has been fighting to have the speed limit imposed for almost two years and, while pleased that the work is soon to commence, members are keen that the project is not a 'half-hearted' affair.

'We have been pressurising for this since last winter's fatal accident,' said parish councillor Paul Coombe. 'Of course I am pleased that it is being addressed, but the limit is no good if it's not enforced.

'They really need to install a speed camera, which should be no problem now that money made from camera convictions can be put back into paying for new ones.'

Bob Chambers, also a parish councillor who lives at Hillside Cottages, shares Cllr Coombe's scepticism.

'I am pleased but with reservations,' he said. 'It's no good having signs if there's no deterrent. A camera would be very well placed outside Hillside Cottages, because cars really come flying down here. All it takes is for something to pull out and you have an accident.

'Traffic-calming schemes are springing up all over the place in Newton Abbot, but we have had six deaths on this road and have only just been addressed. There is a lot more to be done.'

Both councillors are annoyed with the further delay between the decision to start work and the actual implementation of the restriction, but Bob Jones, of Devon County Council's Local Services office, stresses that the wait is unavoidable.

'The decision to work on the A381 has not been made as suddenly as it may seem,' he said.

'A video has already been made by Highways and the compulsory notification of the work was advertised in the spring.

'The delay is necessary because we now have to work out where to place signs. Some have been ordered from Exeter, but we will be surveying the road to work out where to put repeater signs and how many are needed.

'This is an ongoing scheme; in time we are looking to fully improve the safety of the road, considering the needs of pedestrians and cyclists and addressing the location of the bus stops.'