DEVON County Council’s trial scheme for traffic lights on the A379 in Starcros begins today.

The trial will run from Monday, February 12, until Thursday, March 28.

The aim will be to improve conditions for all road users through the historic pinchpoint at the 18th Century Courtenay Arms Mews in Starcross. The width of this section of the road makes it difficult for vehicles, particularly HGVs, to pass easily and often leads to queuing traffic at peak times.

Currently, two-way traffic flows on the road past Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club pass in close proximity to pedestrians using narrow footways.

The trial of temporary lights on the A379, which has been partly funded by Councillor Alan Connett’s locality budget, is an opportunity to test and learn how a signal-controlled solution will perform.

The signals will be activated by detecting moving traffic (“vehicle-actuated”) allowing vehicles to travel in a single direction at a time on the Strand. There will also be a signal phase for traffic from the New Road arm of the junction.

Lights will be located just south of the Courtenay Arms Mews car park on the northern side and adjacent to the Galleon Inn on the southern side.

During the trial the County Council will be monitoring the effects, including traffic volumes, queuing and recording traffic using alternative routes. People will also be able to share their experiences of the trial from Monday 12 February via the Have Your Say consultation webpage.

Councillor Alan Connett, County Councillor for Exminster and Haldon, said: ‘There have been concerns for many years about traffic through the village. A trial scheme will demonstrate whether lights are a possible solution to help manage traffic through the village, especially at the Pillars.

‘The six-week trial will show whether traffic lights really would work – or if they would cause different problems and residents will be able to feed back on their views about the trial.’