'NO highway improvements and no developments' is the call from residents, who fear that 1,000 extra cars will be driving through Ivybridge once the eastern end developments are complete.

Concerns were raised at Ivybridge Town Council about the plans to develop the town's eastern end.

Resident Mr Harris asked district and town councillors whether there are plans to accommodate the extra cars the developments will bring.

He told councillors that 400 more houses will bring 1,000 new cars, which will all travel through the town to exit Ivybridge.

'What are the proposals to accommodate an extra 1,000 cars a day leaving Ivybridge onto the A38 or travelling through Ivybridge itself?' he asked. 'Because at the moment there are no plans to improve the access to Ivybridge or leaving onto the A38, and there are no alternatives apart from putting the traffic from the new development down through the town.

'People are beginning to say

"no improvements to the A38, no housing developments", because we can't accommodate 1,000 vehicles leaving that particular area.'

District councillor for Ivybridge Mike Saltern said: 'I actually agree with what the people are saying about the need for a road that takes people away from the centre of town.

'Discussions are currently being held on the viability of that, but I ­certainly share your concern.

'We have to accept that we're never going to get an eastern access – probably not in my lifetime. But already the Highways Agency won't allow any further access directly onto the A38.

'So the alternative option is a link road, which takes it down past the leisure centre and out past Endsleigh.

'Whether that's achievable or not will come down to money and the availability of land.

'We're all of the same mind that we want that road to serve the ­additional housing and we've taken a very firm stance.'

'The Highways Agency will not permit it – we've got it in writing and the answer was a very clear no.

'We have to accept that. We might not like it, but that's the reality of it. And believe me, you'd have to have a lot more than 400 houses to fund an eastern access – you'd be looking at thousands.

'So the next best alternative is a link road, and that's what we're fighting for. Whether we'll be able to achieve it or not we'll have to wait and see.'

Town clerk Lesley Hughes said the council supports the comments made by Cllr Saltern, adding: 'Sadly, we support Cllr Saltern's comments about the amount of ­development we'd need to justify having another access onto the A38 – if the Highways Agency would allow it.

'I'd like to highlight that we're

also working with our Ugborough colleagues on this.

'Ugborough similarly supports the need for this to be addressed, and in fact county councillor Richard Hosking is raising it with Devon County and working alongside ­colleague Roger Croad.

'All agencies are working together on this to try to solve a problem that all can see coming.'