AN INFAMOUS link road, planned more than 12 years ago to ease congestion as hundreds or new homes were built, has officially become the road to now where.

According to information just discovered by county councillor Rosie Dawson, there is no sign of the Dawlish link road being open to traffic any time soon.

The road, which became known as the ‘missing link road’ due to delays, was due to connect the main A379 at Sainsbury’s store to more than 400 homes at Secmaton Farm and Swan Park and providing access to another 400 homes at Gatehouse Farm.

The original plan had been for it to open to the public and bus services to ease traffic congestion in other parts of the town.

Proposals for the road were first put forward when housing development was considered to the north east of the town more than a decade ago.

But as one key parcel of land has yet to be sold for development, the entire length of road cannot be open to any vehicles other than construction traffic.

Cllr Dawson explained: ‘I appreciate everyone is frustrated, I am also exceedingly frustrated.

‘But the middle piece of land has not been sold so a footway and lighting has not been delivered which leaves us in a sticky situation.

‘Who knows when this land will sell.

‘It was common misconception, including by me, that the road had to open when 51 homes were inhabited on the Gatehouse site.

‘But I have discovered that is not the case.

‘What was agreed years ago was that when those 51 homes were occupied, construction traffic should not use Elm Grove Road and the Secmaton entrance due to the number of schools nearby.’

Cllr Dawson went on to point out that local authorities do not have funds to deliver roads but use grants and get developers to contribute or take responsibility to delivering road schemes.

Until recently Bloor homes were working close to the road but now construction has moved away, it should have been possible to open the link road.

However, the issue is the lack of pavement and lighting which relates to the as yet unsold piece of land.

Cllr Dawson has met officers from Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council to discuss the issue which has become a dead end.

She said: ‘We are now in a situation where we have a modern design road which can’t be used for safety reasons.

‘No council has the money to put in a pavement and lighting for the whole stretch of road.

‘And there is no developer to take responsibility to deliver it so we are stuck.

‘The road has to meet today’s safety standards for pedestrians so they can’t use a 30mph road with no pavement and no lighting.

‘We don’t want to push to open it but not allow pedestrians, which we known won’t happen, and then have a fatality or injury.

‘I have challenged both Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council to come up with a temporary solution but the land doesn’t belong to them which is another sticking point.

‘We need a temporary solution in place but there are complexities at every level.’