The next stage of public consultation on a controversial traffic lights scheme for Kingsteignton could be a joint exercise between Devon County Council and the parish council.
A consensus has to be reached before September when the plan is due to be considered by Teignbridge Council highways and Traffic orders committee. County highways engineers have said that a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Ley Lane and Exeter Road must include a four-way traffic light scheme for reasons of safety. The parish council has said it wants only the crossing and another near the Ten Tors Inn. It has been warned that cash for the scheme could be lost if an agreement cannot be reached or that the county could press ahead with its plans regardless. county cllr John Smith told Wednesday's parish council meeting that he wanted a conversation with the members about the scheme. 'I think we have to come to a conclusion about consultation,' he said. He had drafted a letter he intended to send to parents of Teign School pupils. 'I want to see if we can get a view from parents as to whether or not the traffic lights go in,' he said. He invited the parish to come up with other ideas for consultation. Cllr Jill Morris said the council had thought about compiling a residents' questionnaire, which prompted Cllr Smith to ask: 'Would you wish to do something jointly?' Cllr Beryl Austen thought that Cllr Smith's letter was a good idea which will be issued whatever the council decided. Cllr Smith said that if the parish council wanted to consult the public in general, he would be delighted. Cllr Steve Hall said he objected to a section of Cllr Smith's letter, which referred to the parish council being 'bullied' into rejecting the traffic lights. 'Parish councillors are unanimously in favour of a crossing but not a sledgehammer to crack a nut,' he said. The parish council's works and services committee will debate the joint approach again at its meeting on April 19.