Turk's Head roundabout plan 'still not the answer'

PRELIMINARY plans for improvements to the Turk's Head junction in Honiton could do with a bit of tweaking, according to town councillors.Although impressed the Highways Agency has cracked on with a scheme, members of Honiton Town Council's planning committee last week expressed concerns about the draft proposal.A roundabout was the most prominent feature of the plan, presented to councillors at a meeting on Tuesday.Committee chairman Councillor Michael Teare said a roundabout was better than the existing T-junction, but former mayor Councillor Sally Casson said the proposed plan was "still not the answer".After carefully considering the draft proposal and reiterating their continuing desire to work closely with the Highways Agency, councillors raised the following points: A filter lane should be developed to the left hand lane, coming out of Turk's Head towards High Street. Councillors fear queues could tail back onto the A30 without a filter lane.lRefuges need to be supported by a pedestrian crossing.The distance between the highway and the entrance to Honiton Motel needs to be revised to allow more space.How is a bus stop going to fit in with the draft plan?Although they welcome the construction of a footpath on the northern side of the junction, they want to clarify that it will link up to nearby properties.