THE speed of traffic on Western Road, Crediton, brought a plea from a councillor at Tuesday's meeting of Crediton Town Council's General Purposes Committee that a flashing "Slow Down" sign be erected to remind drivers of the speed limit.

Committee chairman Cllr Frank Letch said he had received a complaint from a local resident about the noise and speed of traffic in both directions.

"Co-incidentally, I read that 34 per cent of accidents occur outside or near schools and I suggest we ask the town Speed Watch to go there, he said.

His view was supported by Cllr Bill Dixon, who explained: "I have been a regular user of Western Road and I feel that one of the problems is school children playing idiots with the traffic, running across the road, regardless."

He added that Western Road was one of the few straight stretches (of road) for vehicles that went through the town. He went on: "You can understand drivers putting their foot down, even though there is a speed limit."

Councillors felt that someone needed to patrol the area at school times, maybe not every day and Cllr Mike Szabo suggested asking for an illuminated "Slow down" sign to warn drivers of their speed.

These points were all agreed, with Cllr Letch adding that another problem spot was outside Hayward's Primary School on East Street, where he "often sees mothers and children running across the road below the zebra crossing."

• See full Town Council report in page 4.