Latest transport proposals for Halsetown published for consultation

Details of measures to help reduce traffic speeds and improve pedestrian safety in Halsetown as part of the Town Deal funded Low Carbon Transport Strategy have been published for statutory consultation. .

The latest proposals have been developed in consultation with the local community following concerns about the potential increase of more holiday and day visitor traffic into St Ives along the old coach road. This led to a number of additional speed enforcement and pedestrian safety measures to help mitigate the potential impact of additional traffic being put forward for consideration.

Following the completion of detailed surveys and a Road Safety Audit, a design proposal has been produced. This includes those measures which can be delivered within the physical constraints of the village and available funding.

The proposed scheme includes:

• Two new sections of footway.

• The introduction of ‘village gateway feature and signage’ to signal entry into the village.

• The installation of Vehicle Activated Speed Signs (VAS) to alert drivers and encourage safer speeds alongside other speed reducing measures.

• Additional and refreshed road markings and signage.

• A new footway with bus shelter.

• A 20mph speed limit on Laity Lane.

• Alterations to the colour and texture of road surfacing at some key locations to signal a change of speed limit.

“We are very grateful to the group of local residents who have worked with us over the past few months to develop the proposed scheme” said Town Deal Transport Project Manager Kieren Couch. “While it has not been possible to include all of the measures put forward by the group, the transport project team have worked very hard to include all those which can be delivered within the scheme”.

The statutory consultation is being led by Cormac in partnership with the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy project team. Feedback will be used to inform the final designs.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: “I welcome this collaborative approach to re-thinking highway design in Halsetown, Striking a balance between all highway users is challenging but a number of Town Deal funded proposals are being put forward to help make Halsetown more pedestrian friendly. I encourage everyone to keep coming forward to share their priorities with the design team.”

Details of the plans, including maps and drawings are available to view on Cornwall Council’s website .

To take part in the three week consultation, which runs until 14 March, please visit the transport consultation section on Cornwall Council’s website https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult

Responses can also be provided via email at traffic@cormacltd.co.uk.

Subject to the results of the consultation, work on implementing the agreed measures is currently scheduled to take place before Easter.

Work is progressing well on developing other schemes within 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.

Following the completion of the Terrace scheme at the beginning of January, work is currently taking place to improve Consols junction. This is due to be completed by the end of March. Work is also continuing to develop the schemes at Higher Stennack and Tempest.

Plans are being finalised to the 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 due to be introduced in June, 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.

The Low Carbon Transport Strategy has received £3 million from the government’s Town Deal programme and £2.5 million from Cornwall Council. St Ives Town Deal Board, in partnership with Cornwall Council, successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £19.9 million to support a range of projects that will contribute to the town’s regeneration and boost the local economy.

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Notes to editors

About the UK Government Town Deals programme

The Town Deals programme aims to regenerate towns and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. This is through investments in urban regeneration, digital and physical connectivity, skills, heritage and enterprise infrastructure. As of July 2021, DLUHC (now MHCLG) had offered Town Deals to all 101 places that submitted proposals, committing over £2.35bn of investment across c.700 projects nationwide. See the press releases associated with Town Deals on gov.uk.

Cornwall is the only area invited by the Government to submit proposals for four of its towns: Camborne, Penzance, St Ives and Truro. After conducting extensive public consultations, each Town Deal Board submitted their Town Investment Plan in collaboration with Cornwall Council. As a result, the Government announced in spring 2021, that Cornwall will receive up to £88.7 million from the Town Deals programme.

For more information visit: www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economic-development/towns-fund

About St Ives Town Deal

In June 2021, St Ives secured a Town Deal of up to £19.9 million following the successful submission of its Town Investment Plan for a range of regeneration projects. For more information about St Ives Town Deal visit www.stivestowndeal.org.uk

Cornwall is the only area invited by the government to submit proposals for four of its towns: Camborne, Penzance, St Ives and Truro. After conducting extensive public consultations, each Town Deal Board submitted their Town Investment Plan in collaboration with Cornwall Council.

As a result, the government announced in spring 2021, that Cornwall will receive up to £88.7 million from the Town Deal programme. Cornwall Council is the lead authority for the Town Deals in Cornwall. Cornwall Council supports the governance role of St Ives Town Deal Board and is responsible for administering the fund on behalf of the board. For more information visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/economicdevelopment/towns-fund.

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.