TEIGNMOUTH councillors are split over whether the zebra crossing outside the Co-op on Higher Brook Street should be controlled by lights.

Some are worried that motorists are often not spotting pedestrians about to cross because of visibility problems, and believe pelican lights would be safer.

Others, however, maintain it should be left as it, because it is safer for walkers to start crossing when vehicles have stopped for them.

But all members agree that improvements of some sort should be carried out to make drivers more aware of the crossing.

Cllr James McMurray reported to the town council on a survey carried out by county council engineers, which found there had not been any recorded collisions, and 'the team does not consider that any major physical change to the current layout should be undertaken'. It was safer than some people perceived, so long as used with care.

'If there is a collision in the future, it may be that or other parties will not have taken appropriate care, so one should never assume it was solely down to the crossing location itself.

'Serious collisions do sometimes happen on zebras.'

Cllr McMurray cautioned they needed to ensure that any change made was the right one. A hasty decision could turn out to be the wrong one.

Cllr Ian Parkes, who lives close to the site, insisted that a lot of traffic was not stopping for pedestrians, and further investigation was needed.

The mayor, Cllr Vince Fusco, insisted the crossing worked well as it was and should be left alone. He pointed out there were already five sets of lights along the road and any more would increase the hold-ups.

'We don't want to be like a nanny state over this.'

The crossing location was described 'as an accident waiting to happen', by Cllr Terry Falcao.

'It is in a peculiar place and I fear somebody will get run over. Motorists are coming very close before slamming on the brakes. Perhaps rumble strips would help to warn drivers they were approaching a crossing?

'There is something wrong with the location and it needs warning lights. Motorists aren't seeing the crossing.'

Approaching from the Shaldon direction, drivers were faced with a slight brow of a slope, said Cllr Geoff Bladon.

'Combined with the distractions of buildings in the background, many did not realise it was a crossing until they were virtually on it. It was nothing to do with poor driving, it was just the situation,' he said.

Cllr David Cox did not think that installing lights would be the answer.

'It could make it worse, because people tend to cross when the light is in their favour, but vehicles may still not stop in time. At the moment they make sure the traffic is stopped before crossing.'

Cllr Bladon, who was chairing the finance and general purposes committee, admitted 'there is no easy solution', and Cllr McMurray added: 'It is quite a complex issue and we would have to make out a pretty strong case to the highways committee.

'Personally, I would prefer a pelican crossing, but we need more evidence. Perhaps members can monitor the crossing themselves and come back to the September meeting with more observation.'

Town clerk Dave Tickell suggested it might help to provide a central refuge, so pedestrians could at least cross one lane at a time.