LEWDOWN Group Council is appealing for motorists to mind their speed and watch where they park, in the wake of a road traffic accident by Lew Trenchard Primary School last month.

The accident took place on October 19 and saw two vehicles collide just before 11am at the crossroads outside the school.

Cllr Colin Dunn, chair of the council, which is made up of Lewtrenchard, Mary-stowe, Thrustleton and Coryton parish councils, said that the vehicle collision was an ‘accident waiting to happen’.

‘We are aware of vehicles that do not stick to the speed limit and we know that people park around the school in dangerous places, which then gives no visibility to traffic.

‘We have known that this was an accident waiting to happen.?Fortunately no-one was seriously hurt.’

Cllr Dunn said he had appealed to Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council (DCC) for their help in the matter.

‘We have asked to have the speed reduced to 20mph but Devon and Cornwall Police saw no justification for that,’ he added. ‘We then asked for double yellow lines at the location so that no-one parked there but DCC don’t have the budget. We then said that we would pay for vehicle activated cameras but that had to go to a DCC committee and for some reason they turned it down.

‘This seems appalling — my responsibility is to the children of the school.

‘The accident was exactly as predicted. We just want them to listen to us, this is what we want to do but we are not being allowed.’

A Devon County Council spokesman said: ‘The community’s request for vehicle activated signs has been reviewed jointly by the county council and Devon and Cornwall Police through the speed compliance action review forum, but average speeds were found to be in the region of 35mph.

‘A proposal for double yellow lines could be considered at next year’s West Devon annual waiting restriction review, but we would urge people to park considerately and drive at the appropriate speed.’

PCSO Dave Chapple said that in the next few weeks it was hoped speed checks will be undertaken throughout his patch, which includes Peter Tavy, Mary Tavy, Lydford, Lifton, Horsebridge, Lewdown, Brentor and Lamerton, and all the areas in between.

PCSO Chapple said: ‘In the meantime I advise people to park sensibly and stick to the speed limit and be responsible road users to prevent any accidents.’