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Campaigners have welcomed plans to improve safety on one of the main roads in Cornwall but say they are disappointed that a new replacement road has not been supported. National Highways has announced a package of measures to improve safety on the A38 in South East Cornwall.
And while these have been welcomed by campaign group Safe38 they said that it will not solve the long-term problems with the route and make it entirely safe. They have urged local people to take part in a public consultation to make road bosses aware of the need for more work. The group was set-up to lobby for change following a string of fatal and serious accidents.
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Under the new package are plans for speed cameras, improved road and junction layouts, upgraded bus lay-bys, reduced speed limits, improved signage, lighting and traffic signalling. Whilst the package has been proposed by National Highways it will require funding approval from the Government before it can get the go-ahead.
James Millidge, chairman of Safe38, said that he had mixed feelings about the announcement as he welcomed anything which would improve safety but feels it would be better to make more fundamental changes to the route such as a completely new road.
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“The plans as they stand will not address all the long standing issues which will continue to be a problem. We will continue to lobby for a permanent solution but we do welcome anything which is done to address safety.
“We are all in favour of the safety measures but it will have taken 10 years by the time they are delivered – we don’t expect that to be until 2026/27. It is a very long time for what is a modest set of improvements. What is really needed is an upgraded route that will solve all the problems.
“With all the talk of levelling up we had hoped that we would be able to get that for this road, but it feels that South East Cornwall is being overlooked again.”
James added: “It is a strange situation for us as the proposals are in line with our aims and what we have been asking for, but we want people to go to the public consultation events and say that these plans don’t go far enough, they won’t solve any of the issues and what we need is a new road.
“There is an opportunity to make what is a pretty low level package better for the short or medium term, but in terms of the long term need it is so far from what we have hoped would come forward. It is disappointing, but we are pleased that they are going to do something.”
National Highways said that the A38 Trerulefoot to Carkeel safety package was one of a number of schemes which are being submitted to the Government for consideration for its road investment strategy 2025.
It said: “Following National Highways’ A38 safety study, proposals include the installation of average speed cameras at various locations along the route, improved road and junction layouts, including widening and crawling lane alterations, upgraded bus lay-bys, reduced speed limits at Tideford and Landrake, and improved signage, lighting and traffic signalling.
“At Tideford, a village designated as an Air Quality Management Area, proposed measures would also aim to improve traffic flows and reduce stop/start vehicle movement.”
A series of public consultation events are set to be held in the coming days to give people the chance to learn more about the safety package and give their views. The events are:
- Wednesday, June 15 at Eliot Hall, St Germans 3pm-8pm;
- Friday, July 1 at Saltash Guildhall 2pm-7pm;
- Saturday, July 2 at Saltash Guildhall 9am-2pm;
- Thursday, July 14 at Tideford Royal British Legion Club 3pm-8pm;
- Friday, July 15 at Tideford Royal British Legion Club 9pm-noon
Information will also be available throughout the consultation at the following pick-up points: Liskeard Post Office; Spar Community Shop, Menheniot; Community Shop, Fore St, St Germans; Landrake Post Office; Spar Community Shop, Lower Burraton, Saltash; Kernow Mill, Nr Trerulefoot.
