Kingsteignton residents remained concerned that a new traffic-light scheme and double yellow lines will cause chaos and rob trade from businesses.

Congestion caused by temporary lights and roadworks needed to install the £80,000 scheme have provoked fears that the permanent system, due to be switched on this week, will be no better. Last week, up to 80 people attended a public meeting organised by protester Cllr Joan Lambert.

She insisted that gridlock will result and said feelings were running high. 'Some people are getting very uptight indeed and are starting to erect placards with slogans such as stop the road rage, stop the pollution and get rid of the lights,' she said. Sandra Full, who runs a bakery business next to the lights, is worried that loss of parking will slash passing trade but, having seen the traffic grind to a halt on several occasions, she feared that worse was to come.

'If the road keeps getting blocked like this, they'll have to extend the yellow lines even further,' she said. Cllr Mike Walters accused Devon County Council of being 'hell bent' on executing its travel plan, which includes the lights, without public support. He rejected an argument that the scheme would improve safety and said young cyclists were already putting themselves at risk by rushing to beat light changes.

He also said that retained firefighters were missing call-outs after getting stuck at the lights. Station officer Tony Jones, group commander at Newton Abbot, confirmed that four staff had experienced difficulties getting through the temporary lights but that appliances had not been delayed.

'It has, however, caused difficulty for appliances returning from a fire call, due to the fact that queueing traffic at the lights are unable to leave sufficient passing space for oncoming traffic because of cars parked at the side of the road,' he said.

Cllr Walters said he would continue to fight for a re-think at County Hall and said: 'Let the people of Kingsteignton feel they have a voice, not be heard to say it's a foregone conclusion no matter what we think'. Supporters of the scheme, including governors at Teign School, say it will improve safety for pedestrians.