'THE thought of it sends shivers down by spine', one scared resident has declared as the battle continues over a lane off Woodland Road, Ivybridge.

Objectors say the county council was 'like a rabbit caught in the headlights' after residents found the lane – wanted to be used for access into a proposed new development – had a 29-year-old traffic regulation order preventing vehicles from using it.

Last month Devon County Council gave no objection to the proposed Woodland Barn development which wants to use the lane as access. The council's highways department said it has considered the objections but is minded not to object to the use of Kennel Lane.

Around 60 letters of objection have been submitted to South Hams Council.

The majority of objectors have outlined their concerns for children who use the lane as access to the park or walking to Woodlands Park Primary School and Dame Hannahs.

Nearby resident Chris Hatch said he feels shivers go down his spine every time he drives past Kennel Lane.

He said: 'Since 1986 there has been a traffic order preventing vehicles from using the lane apart from anything to do with the fields and agriculture, nothing to do with public rights of way, and to that end there is a bollard at the top end of the lane to prevent traffic from actually using it.

'Originally there used to be a bollard at the bottom but it has since been removed because the only vehicle that actually uses the lane is a South Hams Council maintenance vehicle.

For more on this story, see this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette