A number of improvements to the main road through Starcross to help alleviate traffic problems and improve safety have been approved.

The stretch of the A379 through the village is known for pinch-points, especially a narrow section between the pillars and a convenience store, where traffic queues.

Whilst members of the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee were told that widening this section was not possible, several other schemes were approved to help "improve transport conditions."

These include the widening of some sections of pavement on the Strand, additional double yellow lines near the pillars and prohibiting motor vehicles from Church Street onto the Strand.

Councillors were told the works, estimated to cost £70,000 and funded from the local transport plan, would reduce traffic queuing along the narrow sections of the road and encourage sustainable travel.

In his report, Dave Black, the county council's head of planning, transportation and environment, said: "The section of the A379 through Starcross is a well known pinch-point. The narrow sections of road near the pillars and adjacent to the Spar can restrict traffic flow and the narrow footways along the Strand, between New Road and the Spar, can be unattractive to some pedestrians.

"The constraints within Starcross limit the scope of any major works along the A379. Instead, a number of modest enhancements to footways, restriction of some turning movements and parking are proposed to improve the pedestrian environment for local residents and vehicle flow have been developed."

Councillor Alan Connett (Lib Dem), who represents the village on Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council, said he "very much welcomed" the enhancement scheme. However, like several people who responded to a consultation, he would like to see traffic lights in Starcross.

But in his report, Mr Black explained why lights were not a feasible option.

"To provide a suitable facility where vehicles can pass outside the signalised area, signal heads would need be over 200 metres apart," he wrote.

"This is about three times the distance between the signals at Kenton.

"This would introduce queuing throughout the day, worsening traffic flow, pollution and air quality for dwellings in vicinity of the signals."

Mr Black added: "It is not possible to widen the A379 between the pillars and convenience store. To widen the road would require removal of the wall of the Starcross Fishing & Cruising club car park. Furthermore, the wall is adjacent to the chambers of Brunel's Atmospheric Railway, which are listed, and removal of the wall would risk damaging the chambers."

Despite the lack of lights, Cllr Connett said the scheme will "do a lot of good in terms of improving traffic management in the village centre and certainly make it safer for pedestrians walking along the pavement along the main road".

He added that some people are concerned that widening the pavement on the main road may create more traffic problems, but that the council were proposing a short-term trial on some sections to see how it works before making it permanent.

List of improvements:

– Build out on the northbound entry to Starcross to narrow the vehicle carriageway and provide protected on street parking spaces. This will reinforce the entry into a settlement to reduce approach speeds into Starcross.

– Priority to traffic exiting the narrow section of the Strand (southbound), to help clear traffic out of the narrow part of the A379 in vicinity of the convenience store.

– Prohibiting motor vehicles from Church Street onto the Strand.

– Provision of continuous footway across Church Street and localised footway widening to improve pedestrian facilities on the Strand.

– New stretch of footway on New Road to fill in gap in footway between southern side of New Road and the Strand.

– Banning of right turn out of New Road, which will help to reduce movements and friction at a junction in close proximity to the pinch point at the Pillars.

– Changes to bus shelter on the west of the Strand, including change of end panel from advertising to see through panel, improving visibility between bus stop users and cyclists. Subject to owner permission.

– Single yellow lines outside the Atmospheric Railway pub. This will restrict parking through busiest times of the day to help improve traffic flow exiting the narrow section, but still allow parking adjacent to the pub in the evenings.

– Additional double yellow lines north of the pillars, to provide additional area for large vehicles to pass and help traffic flow exiting the narrow section.

The report adds that statutory consultation will have to take place for changes to loading (double/single yellow lines), a right turn out of New Road and restrictions on Church Street.