A TRIAL traffic light scheme in Starcross was abandoned before it began, it is understood. 

The scheme was due to have started on Monday but according the Starcross Parish Council, it was halted before the temporary lights were even switched on. 

The experiment was aimed at improve conditions for all road users through the historic pinch point 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 had been partly funded by Councillor Alan Connett’s locality budget, was meant to trial how signal controls would work. 

But by Monday evening, the parish council says a decision was taken to stop the trial.

The council claims when teams tried to set up the equipment on the southern approach, it became clear the trial was going to cause problems for vehicles larger than a car to pass.