MAJOR alterations to the traffic lights system in Okehampton look set to ease congestion in the town centre.

Work due to start in the autumn will see the existing puffin crossing in Fore Street linked to the Market Street and Fore Street signals — it will help co-ordinate signal times and reduce delays to traffic in Fore Street.

The proposals were given the go ahead at the West Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee meeting in the town last Thursday.

There will be a puffin crossing put in place to upgrade the existing zebra crossing in Market Street. This, too, will be linked to the Market Street and Fore Street signals, helping to reduce delays to traffic and help vehicles to exit Market Street at peak times.

Further up Fore Street, vehicle detectors at the East Street and Mill Road junction will be replaced with a new loop detection system, placed underground. The work will reduce problems caused by vehicles turning right into Northfield Road and with the sensors out of sight it will prevent vandalism.

The scheme will also see the installation of a Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Activation (MOVA), a computer-based system which senses traffic movement.

Devon County Council area engineer for the north, Joe Deasy, said: 'I feel the new system will absolutely benefit the people of Okehampton and surrounding areas.

'I think the School Way and Market Street junction has suffered and this will inevitably help the flow of traffic for the whole town.

'The MOVA system in particular will be smart enough to record how many cars are coming through and adjust accordingly to traffic flow.

'It is felt this proposed scheme will maximise the traffic capacity of the existing junction layout, without having a detrimental impact on traffic patterns in other parts of the town.

'It should be recognised that there will continue to be situations when these junctions reach saturation and there will still be some delays in traffic — it won't completely stop traffic but it will help to improve it.'

The cost of the scheme is estimated at £86,000 and will be met through contributions from housing development.

West Devon Borough Councillor and chairman of West Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee Christine Marsh said: 'This development will ultimately help the town and its visitors.

'The money is not coming out of the taxpayers' pocket, which is great.

'I have been working a long time to get this done, ever since it was identified as a problem and we are hoping the new system will help alleviate the town's traffic problem.

'The sensor lights are being upgraded and are a good idea, because when you get to a heavy flow of traffic, the lights will work better with the traffic.

'Unfortunately the works won't start until the end of summer but it will be quite disruptive to pedestrians, so it is the best possible time.'

The more effective management of the signal timings will help to improve traffic capacity through the junctions of Okehampton, which has seen an increase over the years with congestion and travel delays, particularly in the Market Street area where three major supermarkets are sited.

West Devon Borough Cllr Dennis Bater said: 'Generally the lights will be a big improvement and if they put a puffin crossing down at Market Street, it will work in line with the lights.

'I think at present the lights at the White Hart are working really well, so if they can do more, then that is even better.'

Work on the new scheme is set to start in September/October and will take approximately six weeks to complete.