St Ives Town Deal Low Carbon Transport

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Update on Consols Junction scheme

Work on re-designing Consols junction on the B3306 to reduce travel times on the route into St Ives by changing the priority of the junction and improve pedestrian access is due to begin on Monday, 6 January.

The scheme is being funded by the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy which aims to transform travel in and around the town, creating a high quality and fully sustainable network of safe and accessible walking, cycling and urban spaces. It is being delivered by Cornwall Council in partnership with the St Ives Town Deal Board.

A preliminary design for Consols junction was presented at the public update event held in St Ives Library in September 2024. Following engagement with local residents, the original design was amended to include a new pedestrian footway to create a safer place to walk along the narrow pinch point past Tom’s Yard and additional pavements around the junction.

As well as changing the priority of the junction, to give priority to traffic flowing between St Ives and Halsetown rather than St Ives and Zennor, the works will include a priority give-way system, where traffic leaving St Ives will have priority over vehicles entering. Following the completion of these works, the junction will be fully resurfaced and new road markings applied.

The scheme is being constructed by Cormac, with three-way traffic lights in use for the majority of the work to enable the team to work safely.

The final resurfacing and application of road markings will be carried out at nighttime towards the end of the programme, as a full road closure will be required.

The scheme is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025.

Key milestone for St Ives as work is completed on first Low Carbon Transport Strategy scheme

St Ives has celebrated another milestone as work is completed on the first highways scheme to be delivered as part of the Town Deal funded Low Carbon Transport Strategy.

Andrew Baragwanath, Chair of St Ives Town Deal Board, was joined by Cornwall Council Leader Linda Taylor and Louis Gardner, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy, St Ives Mayor Johnnie Wells, project manager Charlotte Nash, from Ward Williams ,and Tom James, from Cormac, at the Terrace where work has been carried out to re-design the junction to improve pedestrian access and space, and discourage visitors from driving into the town centre.

The scheme, which has been constructed by Cormac, has involved widening the existing footway on the northwest corner of the junction, by the St Ives Harbour Hotel, and changing the current signs and road markings to direct people towards Trenwith car park rather than driving into the town.

Members of the public were consulted on plans in October 2024, with the feedback used to shape the final design for the scheme.

Welcoming the completion of the scheme, Andrew Baragwanath, Chair of the St Ives Town Deal Board, said “ It is great to see these much needed improvements provided at the Terrace. This is a busy junction and I would like to thank all the partners who worked together to minimise disruption during the construction and ensure that the scheme was completed as quickly as possible”.

“The aim of the Transport Strategy is to reduce the impact of vehicles on St Ives and introduce measures that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. “This scheme, which will make the area safer for pedestrians and help to discourage traffic from going through the town, is the first to be carried out as part of the Transport Strategy and I look forward to seeing further schemes delivered in the coming months”.

Cornwall Council Leader, Linda Taylor said: “As a St Ives resident, I know it feels like this investment has been a long time coming. In truth, Town Deal funding has allowed us to engage extensively with local people to understand their priorities and I know I am not alone in looking forward to enjoying our beautiful town even more as traffic is directed away from its centre.”

Louis Gardner, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Cornwall Council added: “St Ives is a hive of activity with Town Deal projects at the moment with more to come over the next 15 months, and investment in transport plays a key role in knitting it all together. These works are a particularly welcome component in driving traffic in the right direction around the town.”

St Ives Mayor Johnnie Wells added “ For as long as I can remember traffic has been a nightmare in St Ives, and the last few seasons have been beyond chaotic. Reducing the number of vehicles in town is the key to improving accessibility in St Ives and the Town Deal project has given us the funds and resources to think big and really get something done. I am so proud to be part of this project that has the potential to transform our town for the better... this is the first step towards that goal."

Update on other schemes within the Low Carbon Transport Strategy.

Following the completion of the Terrace scheme, the project team are preparing to begin work on the Consols junction. Following engagement with local residents, the original design has been amended to include a pedestrian footway, with work currently scheduled to begin in January.

Vegetation has been cleared on the boundary wall around the Malakoff to enable the structure of the wall to be inspected ahead of the construction of the scheme to improve the Malakoff open space area later next year. Work is also continuing to develop the schemes at Halsetown, Higher Stennack, and Tempest.

Significant progress has also been made on developing a scheme to improve the management of traffic at Tregenna Hill and Library Corner. The current plans are to trial a one-way traffic system, enabling bus and emergency services (including lifeboat crews) to drive down Tregenna Hill from The Terrace, using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) process. The proposed scheme, which is currently due to be introduced before Easter, will use signs rather than traffic lights to control access. It will also allow engineers to assess the impact of different traffic flows around the town.

Work is also taking place to install new smart traffic cameras throughout the town and new Variable Message Signs on the A30 and around St Ives to help manage traffic flow into the town centre.

Engagement event 11 September 2024

More than 400 people attended the recent St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy update event on 11 September 2024 to find out the latest details about all the projects which are being developed and the timetable for delivering the different elements.

You can view a video about the update event here :

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One of the nine Town Deal projects being funded and delivered as part of the St Ives Town Deal programme, the aim of the Low Carbon Transport Strategy is to help reduce the impact of vehicles on St Ives and introduce measures that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport.

The Strategy, which has been allocated £5.5 million of Town Deal funding, includes proposals aimed at reducing traffic congestion and parking demand in the town centre, enhancing public transport options and accessibility, improving air quality and health outcomes for residents and visitors, and supporting local businesses by creating a more attractive and vibrant town.

The individual projects which make up the Strategy are being delivered in phases, with local statutory consultation taking place ahead of the plans being implemented.

Work on the first phase is due to begin later this year. This includes the installation of a new Variable Message Sign on the A30 and around St Ives to help manage traffic flow into the town centre. Currently installation is due to commence by the end of this year, these signs will advise drivers of the most efficient journey and parking before they enter the town. As well as providing real time information on car park availability, the signs will encourage drivers to use St Erth P&R. Work is currently taking place to identify locations for all of the new signs.

Smart traffic cameras are also being introduced throughout the town to provide real time information on the quantity and types of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists entering the town centre. Due to be installed in 10 to 12 sites over the next three months, these cameras will be used to help the project team monitor the effectiveness and benefits of all the changes resulting from the implementation of the strategy. The data will also be used to identify where additional measures might be required in the future to help support or improve the traffic environment and wider traffic management.

Other projects which will be implemented include improvements to the junctions at Malakoff, Lower Stennack, Zennor and the Terrace aimed at improving traffic flow within the town and enhancing bus and train user experience, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and achieving greater speed compliance.

Work on improvements to the junctions at Zennor and Terrace are currently expected to begin in January 2025, with the schemes at Malakoff, which will include realigning the bus stop with provision of a bus shelter and information point, enhancing the gardens and providing additional seating, and Lower Stennack due to begin in September 2025.

This phase also includes potential changes to the layout and operation of some of the car parks in the town with the aim of reducing the number of visitors driving through the town centre.

A review of permit and visitor parking arrangements is currently being carried out which may present opportunities to operate the Island as a permit only car park. As well as reducing the impact of visitor traffic through the harbour area, this change would provide additional permits for residents and businesses.

To off-set this loss of visitor parking, the project team are also reviewing the possibility of transferring some of the existing permit allocation from Barnoon to the Island. While there is overall support for the principle of reducing visitor traffic in the town centre, following concerns from existing permit holders at Barnoon, additional work is taking place to investigate the potential for changing the current layout of the car park to provide additional spaces. No decisions have yet been made, with further engagement due to take place with permit holders over the coming months.

Further work is also taking place to identify measures to mitigate the potential impact of additional traffic on the local community in Halsetown following concerns about the potential increase of more holiday and day visitor traffic into St Ives along the old coach road .These include the introduction of ‘village gateways’ to signal the entry into a slower-paced area, the installation of Vehicle Activated Speed Signs (VAS) to alert drivers and encourage safer speeds and other speed reducing measures. Other interventions include potential virtual footways and surfacing to enhance pedestrian safety and the installation of a new proposed bus stop to better serve the community.

Once detailed topographical and utility surveys and road safety audits have been carried and potential costings identified for the proposed measures, further engagement will take place with the local community to confirm the final programme. It is currently hoped to start work on implementing the agreed measures after the Zennor junction scheme has been completed in early to mid 2025.

The second phase of the Strategy, which includes the creation of a Low Traffic Environment and related improvements at Library Corner and Royal Square, are currently due to be implemented in late 2025 / early 2026.

The aim of the LTE is to reduce unnecessary vehicles from traveling along Wharf Road and Fore Street. Following the public consultation in 2023 and the decision not to use physical restrictions / barriers to prevent access to the town centre, this will now be achieved through the use of signed restrictions only preventing unnecessary traffic from driving into the town centre during peak times through the summer season. Local residents and businesses will not be affected by the restrictions. Improvements will also be made to the streetscape and public realm to discourage visitors from driving into the town centre and improve safety for pedestrians.

Other changes being made as part of the LTE include upgrading Royal Square, a key arrival point in the town, to make it more welcoming. These plans are still being developed but are expected to include providing designated zones and spaces for buses, loading and taxis, creating a new distinctive gateway to the town, installing bike storage facilities and providing continuous footways to improve safety for pedestrians.

The final project involves improving the management of traffic at Tregenna Hill and Library Corner. The current two -way layout results in numerous daily conflicts between vehicles entering and leaving the town via this route and between vehicles and pedestrians, causing significant congestion and delays. Previous consultations have identified this as one of the main areas of concern for the local community.

Following concerns over the impact of the original proposal for a one-way traffic system on bus and emergency services (including lifeboat crews), further work is being carried out on the design. A potential solution which would maintain the proposed one-way system and provide access for bus and emergency services through traffic lights at the top and bottom of the hill and the use of additional technology, has been identified.

However, the complexity of this area means that more work is needed to ensure that the change would improve the current situation and not create additional problems elsewhere on the local road network.

Local statutory consultation will be required before work starts on each of the individual projects. Regular updates will be provided on the St Ives Transport Strategy page on the Let’s Talk Cornwall site : https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/st-ives-town-deal-low-carbon-transport.

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You can watch a short video about the strategy here

The Town Deal funding has to be spent by March 2026, with the projects due to be delivered in phases over this period. Any longer-term measures will need to be funded from other sources.

.You can stay updated on the development of this project and the Town Deal programme in St Ives by joining the online newsletter - Subscribe me to the newsletter.

About the Transport Strategy for St Ives

Funded and delivered as part of the St Ives Town Deal programme, the project aims to:

• Reduce traffic congestion and parking demand in the town centre.

• Improve air quality and health outcomes for residents and visitors.

• Enhance public transport options and accessibility for all.

• Support local businesses by creating a more attractive and vibrant town.

You can view the full exhibition and proposed plans here.

About the St Ives Town Deal

St Ives was one of four locations in Cornwall selected to bid for the Government’s £3.6b Towns Fund, which aims to drive economic regeneration and level up the region’s economy.

St Ives secured a Town Deal of up to £19.9m in June 2021, after submitting a Town Investment Plan that outlines nine projects to revitalise the town.

To implement the plan, St Ives Town Deal Board collaborates with funded partner organisations and Cornwall Council.

Six of the nine St Ives Town Deal projects have now been contracted and received their first grant payments, enabling work to begin on delivering these exciting and ambitious schemes. These include St Ives Theatre, the Rugby Club Relocation and Housing, the Guildhall, Leach Pottery, the Enterprise Grants and St Ives Community Orchard.

These projects are part funded by the Government's Town Deal programme and delivered by Cornwall Council in partnership with the St Ives Town Deal Board.

More information is available on the St Ives Town Deal website www.stivestowndeal.org.uk

You can also follow the St Ives Town Deal programme on social media.

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