MEMBERS of Crediton Traffic Action Group were in buoyant mood after they were told their favoured option of the valley route for the much debated link road into the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate from the A377 Exeter Road was "clearly still in contention".

The comment was made by former town mayor, Bob Edwards, vice-chairman of CTAG, who was reporting on a high-level meeting between Devon County Council and a delegation of CTAG members, held at County Hall.

While Mr Edwards made the point that the valley route was still among the options being considered, he added: "I don't want to raise hopes too high, as there will still be many hoops to jump through and then there will also be issues of costs and planning."

The CTAG delegation, which also included CTAG chairman Bill Dixon, member Dr Michael Fennessy and Crediton Town Councillor Elizabeth Brookes-Hocking, had a meeting lasting more than one and a half hours, during which the various route options were discussed in detail.

Mr Edwards said he believed up to three route options selected by DCC engineers may be put to Devon County Council's cabinet for their consideration, prior to their next meeting in February 2010.

He said that while the three routes could be put forward, they would have to be "engineerable, deliverable and affordable."

2,000 SIGN IN SUPPORT

OF VALLEY ROUTE

Mr Edwards added that he had told the officers that the flood plain issues relating to the Valley route could be solved.

However, he said members should not "count their chickens" about which route had been decided upon until the turf was cut and building the road had started.

The engineers promised to supply further details concerning pollution figures to Mr Fennessy.

Mr Dixon expressed his delight that more than 2,000 people had signed the CTAG petition calling for the Valley route.

He suggested that DCC officers should now "forget" the Hillside route, which attracted just 319 supporters following the DCC questionnaire.

The council officers promised to tell Mr Dixon of their recommendations prior to the February meeting.

CTAG members agreed to continue writing to councillors and keep up the pressure for the Valley route.

It was also agreed to conduct a survey to gather the views about favoured routes from businesses on the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.

Prior to the meeting, which was held at Crediton Rugby Club, Eddie Trick, from the club, spoke about the situation currently being faced by the club from a challenge by Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council which, it was said, is "blighting" its future prosperity and contribution to Crediton's sporting life.

The issue was first highlighted by the Courier in our issue of Friday, November 13.

The date of the next CTAG meeting was agreed as Thursday, January 14.