by Alan Quick

CAMPAIGNERS for a new primary school at Newton St Cyres put forward a strong case when they spoke at a pre-planning committee meeting held to brief councillors and staff from Mid Devon District Council, the planning authority, this week.

The campaigners believe they have found a resolution to problems concerning traffic issues in Station Road, which have delayed the planning application for the school and 25 new homes which are to be built by Kingswood Homes.

Speakers at the pre-planning meeting included the Executive Head of the Exe Federation, John Joliffe and representatives form Kingswood Homes.

The representatives said they believed a solution would be to purchase a 30 metre stretch of land each side of the road in Station Road, near the junction with the A377.

It was believed that this could help the situation.

Mr Joliffe said that a walking bus, a breakfast club, after school clubs and encouraging children to walk or scooter to and from school would help stop the problem of traffic all trying to use Station Road within a short period of time at the beginning and end of each school day.

In addition to these proposals, the representatives from the developers said they were prepared to purchase the narrowest section (about six metres long) and give the land to Devon County Council in the event that it may be needed to further ease a traffic issue near the junction.

The two local residents who complained about the traffic situation spoke at the meeting and while they both raised concerns about the traffic they, like all the other parties in the room, were in favour of the plan for the school.

Speakers also included County Councillor Mrs Margaret Squires, local county councillor; Peter Hare-Scott, the ward Mid Devon District Councillor and David Baker, chairman, Newton St Cyres Parish Council.

Petitions in favour of the school were presented and prior to the meeting, children from Newton St Cyres Primary School lobbied councillors on their way to the meeting.

Mid Devon District Council planners are expected to approve the plan, having heard the modifications to the proposal and plans announced by the school, at the meeting on Monday, October 3.