TRAFFIC lights are to be installed on the main road in Starcross as an experiment to try to tackle congestion.

The bid is the latest attempt to curb the snarl ups on the A379 which happen on a regular basis and are at their worst during the peak summer holiday months.

Villagers have been split over the issue of lights with some concerned they will have a knock-on effect on other roads.

Some fear the implications on residential roads when drivers try to avoid traffic management schemes such as lights.

The trial scheme, by Devon County Council, is due to start on Monday February 12 and finish on Thursday March 28.

The section of the A379 through Starcross is a well known pinch-point.

The narrow sections of road near the pillars cause tailbacks by restricting traffic flow, particularly during summer months when car and caravan flows are higher.

And there are narrow footways along The Strand.

A trial was previously carried out to widen these footpaths but this was not made permament.

County Councillor Alan Connett explained: ‘There have been concerns for many years about traffic through the village.

‘The six-week trial will show whether traffic lights really would work or if they would cause different problems.

‘The county council will also be running a ‘Have Your Say’ consultation so residents can feed back their views about the trial.

‘When traffic lights have been talked about in the past, the county council has said that lights would need to be roughly where the Spar shop is and at the train station.

‘A trial scheme now will demonstrate whether lights are a possible solution to help manage traffic through the village, especially at the Pillars.’

News of the scheme has had a mixed reaction.

One resident warned lights would lead to more vehicles running from Cockwood through New Road, up around Brickyard Lane and then down Staplake Road, joined by more vehicles using the back lane from Kenton again entering the village at Brickyard Lane.

These will all go past the school.

The resident said when lights were used previously, it created ‘mayhem’ in the village.