IN response to the report of the meeting between road campaigner Mrs Denise McSheehy and Mel Stride MP on August 24 in the “Crediton Courier”on September 8, as Devon County Councillor for Morchard Bishop I welcome this meeting being called but unfortunately I was unable to attend.

I had, however, made the Morchard Bishop Parish Council aware of the meeting and requested Stephen Tucker, Highways Officer for the area, and Steve Short, Highways Engineer to attend.

During my time as Devon County Councillor I have worked with Morchard Bishop Parish Council in an endeavour to get speed reductions in the village.

Fore Street has been a concern because there is no footpath and cars are parked on one side. Other areas including Polson Hill and Church Street near the school also cause concern.

I welcome the fact that vehicle speeds will be checked by Devon County Council and the issue will be looked at again.

Ideas have been put forward in the past but we have been hampered by legislation, both national and Devon County Council policy.

I am pleased that Mel Stride listened to the concerns about the speed and is taking on board that 30mph is often too fast for our Devon villages and 20mph areas would seem more appropriate.

Speed is not only a concern at Morchard Bishop but also in many of the parishes within my Devon County Division.

I have this week had conversations with a resident at Chawleigh, another village where the parish council has requested that DCC survey vehicle speeds.

Many parishes have similar requests and ask for a SCARF (Speed Compliance Action Review Forum) process to be carried out.

These include Shobrooke, Thorverton, Lapford, Morchard Road and New Buildings as well as some further afield Nomansland, Pennymoor and, recently, Silverton.

I will continue to work with Morchard Bishop Parish Council.

At the meeting on Monday, September 4, the meeting of August 24 was reported and the issues will be discussed further at the council meeting on Monday, October 2, at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.

I will continue to work with the parish councils in my area and with Mel Stride and hopefully in the longer-term the law can be changed to allow communities greater control of speed limits via their local plans.

Margaret Squires

Devon County Councillor

Creedy, Taw and Mid Exe

Frostlands Farm

Copplestone