Continued calls for 'critical safety changes' at accident hotspot
There's calls for funding for road improvements at Plusha Junction
There's continued calls for funding for 'critical' road improvements at one of North Cornwall's biggest 'accident blackspot'.
Cornwall Council's cabinet will be asked to support the re-evaluation of 2015 plans for a grade-separated junction at Plusha.
The number of accidents at Plusha or its immediate vicinity for 1999-2012 was 29 and from 2013-2024 essentially the same (data for 2023 and 2024 is incomplete) but the number of serious/fatal accidents increased from 10.3 per cent to 48.3 per cent of the total. This can be compared with a negligible accident rate at the Kennards House and Five Lanes grade separated junctions.
Between 1999 and 2022, there were two fatal accidents at Plusha, with another four between 2023 and 2024. There were also 11 serious accidents between 1999 and 2022 where people required hospitalisation for significant injury; ten of those accidents have taken place since 2013.
Hundreds of motorists have been caught speeding on the stretch of road since the new temporary speed limit was introduced.
Ben Maguire, MP for North Cornwall, said: "Despite is being onwe of the most dangerous junctions in the Duchy virtually no progress on improving safety of the junction has been made for many years now.
"Now obviously we see the dual carriageway has developed going all the way down the A30 meaning much more traffic and a much busier road but unfortunately this Plusha junction hasn't kept up with the development.
"What price can we put on life? We've had three fatalities on that junction and I refuse to be the MP for North Cornwall while more deaths continue to happen.
"Something has to be done urgently"
"I'm working with the department for transport, also National Highways and Cornwall Council, to look at ways we can prioritise spending".
A motion was put forward to Cornwall Council's first full meeting of 2025, before being referred to cabinet.
The council motion has been proposed by Adrian Parsons, Lib Dem councillor for Altarnun and Stoke Climsland, who has long campaigned for safety changes at the junction. It has been seconded by Adam Paynter, Independent councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin.
The move has been supported by Conservative portfolio holder for transport Connor Donnithorne and a number of other councillors of all political persuasions.
The motion stated: "The junction at Plusha is known for its high accident rate including three fatalities in 2024 but despite proposals to permanently close the right turn from the B3257 onto the A30 eastbound, the grade junction design will not meet current standards for the strategic road network.
"A grade-separated junction would effectively eliminate the likelihood of serious or fatal accidents at the location, provide safe access to Plusha Services, improve local connectivity and generate economic benefit to the wider area. Funding of such a project is not without precedent as Cornwall Council has previously funded design works for significant road improvements, including the A30 Temple dualling, the St Austell Link Road and upgrades to the A38.
“This proactive approach to providing Cornwall with a reliable and safe strategic road network has allowed the Government to have ready-to-implement schemes as funds became available."
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