Anger regarding a proposed traffic scheme for Kingsteignton poured out at a public meeting on Wednesday. More than 80 residents attended the event at St Michael's Church Hall, organised by Cllr Joan Lambert. She was concerned that the scheme for traffic lights, double yellow lines and pedestrian crossings at the Exeter Road junction with Longford Road and Ley Lane would leave residents with nowhere to park, and threaten the viability of businesses. But many said the meeting had come too late to reverse the plan, which could become a reality by the summer. Claims by county highways engineers Graham Heath and Derek Moss that it had been tested by public consultation, and their arguments in favour of better road safety, won little favour. Residents decried the scheme, prompting Mr Heath to comment: 'There's no point arguing. If you're not happy with the scheme you must go to the parish council and say you're against it.' He announced revisions which, he said, cut the number of parking spaces lost from 18 to three, but people questioned the data on which the plan was based. His claim that the traffic lights would deter 'rat-run' drivers using Exeter Road was rubbished. Resident Mark Corben's suggestion that a better alternative would be to stop traffic entering Ley Lane from Exeter Road and save £80,000 in the process won applause.Mr Moss agreed it was an idea worth exploring but said further work would be needed to consider its merits and it had to be assessed against the adopted travel plan. Attempts by Cllr Lambert to keep the audience calm were tested to the limit. 'Ladies and gentlemen, you are becoming a rabble and not listening to anyone,' she said at one point. After 80 minutes the meeting ground to a halt with Cllr Lambert acknowledging the level of anger and urging residents to talk urgently with their neighbours about alternatives. Concerned for the future of their fish and chip shop if passing customers were unable to park outside, Dave and Kay Lewis told the Advertiser: 'It could close us down.' Adrian and Sandra Full, whose bakery has operated in the affected area for almost 40 years, went further. 'If the scheme goes ahead I'll shut the door,' said Mr Full.
