Plans for next two Sustainable Transport schemes in St Ives finalised

Plans to provide new signs and landscaping around Tempest Roundabout near Lelant and improve the area at Higher Stennack to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the road have been finalised following consultations with the local community.

Both schemes are being funded by the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy which aims to reduce the impact of vehicles on St Ives and introduce measures that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. The Strategy is being delivered by Cornwall Council in partnership with the St Ives Town Deal Board.

Following improvements to the Park & Ride at St Erth, the existing signage at the Tempest Roundabout is now out of date.

The scheme includes the renewal of road markings and removal of the outdated signs. These will be replaced by new signs directing drivers to St Ives via the B3311 and towards St Erth Park and Ride instead of Lelant Saltings Station.

These changes will support the wider traffic management strategy which is being developed for the town and help ease the pressure on the wider local road network at peak times.

New plants will also be added to the flowerbeds and grassy areas around the roundabout.

Work is currently due to begin at the end of the summer.

The improvements at Higher Stennack include the installation of an informal crossing point between the mini-roundabouts, providing a new seating and cycle parking area and replacing one set of speed cushions with a flat top hump to make it easier to cross the road at this point.

The scheme also involves moving two streetlights to ensure signs are visible and open up more space for pedestrians, replacing the paving at crossing points with dropped kerbs and installing correctly aligned tactile paving. These changes will help people with visual impairments and make it easier and safer for those with pushchairs or in wheelchairs to cross the road.

Plans are being developed to update signs in the area as part of a wider sign strategy for the town. This will be published for consultation later this year as part of an experimental traffic order (ETRO).

The works, which will be carried out by Cormac, are currently due to begin in early October. Traffic lights will be in use during the daytime to enable the team to work safely.

“I am delighted that work will begin on delivering these next two transport schemes after the summer embargo “ said Andrew Baraganwath, Chair of the St Ives Town Deal Board. “The roundabout at Tempest is a key gateway into St Ives and improving the signage here will help to reduce the number of people driving through the centre of the town and encourage more drivers to use the park and ride”.

“The improvements at Higher Stennack will make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross this busy road and are an important element in the overall Transport Strategy for St Ives. “

Work is also progressing well on developing the other schemes within the Low Carbon Transport Strategy.

Following the completion of the Terrace scheme, the improvements to Consols junction and the first phase of the Malakoff open space scheme, work has now been completed on delivering the first phase of the scheme to reduce traffic speeds and improve pedestrian safety at Halsetown. Work on the second phases of the Malakoff and Halsetown schemes will take place after the peak summer season.

Plans are also being finalised for the scheme to improve the management of traffic at Tregenna Hill and Library Corner. The scheme, which will be trialled using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), is currently due to be introduced in September after the end of the busy summer season.

Ends

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 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

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

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.