Works halted on controversial road scheme in Truro
Businesses on Newham Industrial Estate have welcomed the decision
Work has been halted on a controversial scheme to narrow a busy road to make way for a new cycleway and footpath.
Opponents to the work have previously said they believe it could end with a pedestrian or cyclist being seriously injured or even killed.
Businesses on Newham Industrial Estate in Truro have welcome a decision by Cornwall Council to halt the work which started earlier this month and would see the road reduced to a width of 6.5m to make way for the new path as part of the Truro Loops scheme encouraging greener travel routes in the city.
When the work was announced in March Newham Business Improvement District (BID) said narrowing the road would give heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) just 10 centimetres of clearance.
Businesses based on the industrial estate feared that HGVs would be forced on to the new pavement or their large wing mirrors could catch pedestrians and cyclists causing serious injury or fatalities.
Lee Wills, of Conway Bailey Transport – Cornwall’s largest haulage company which operates a cold store at Newham – said last month: "My major concern is that reducing the width of the road, coupled with the additional cycle and foot traffic the plans potentially will bring to the area, is a recipe for disaster.
"The road layout in my opinion is already unsuitable and needs widening in places. Narrowing the road can only result in an increased risk to everyone involved."
The Newham BID, which promotes and supports Newham as a business location, had instructed solicitors to seek permission from the High Court to judicially review the council’s decision to go ahead with the scheme, and also threatened an injunction.
The BID had previously paid for an independent road safety assessment, which raised concerns about the scheme. This in turn led to Cornwall Council carrying out its own assessment, which found there was no need to change the proposals and the work to narrow the road started on May 2. It was then that the BID – representing the industrial estate, which is home to 180 businesses employing 1,200 people – took legal action.
Following discussions between the council and the BID, the council issued an operational decision to its contractors CORMAC on May 25 to halt the project. Both parties have agreed to work together to try and reach a resolution without going to court.
BID chair Leigh Ibbotson said: "We’re glad that the council has seen sense to halt this scheme while a more sensible solution is sought. It’s a pity that we had to resort to legal action to make our case but we are committed to working with the council on a resolution."
A spokesperson for the council said: "Cornwall Council issued an operational decision on May 25 to halt the Newham Scheme.
"The council and Newham BID are currently working together in an attempt to reach a resolution that does not involve court intervention and generally in respect of any future plans affecting the Newham Estate."