Truro Quiet Lanes Trial
For latest information on the scheme scroll down to Update - October 2022
We are working with partners to improve the health and fitness of residents and visitors, and tackle climate change, by promoting walking and cycling projects and encouraging more people to leave their cars at home.
One of these projects involved the Quiet Lanes, a network of rural, mainly unclassified, lanes between the B3284 (Shortlanesend area) and the A390 (Royal Cornwall Hospital and Threemilestone area).
The narrow lanes, which are unsuitable for high levels of traffic, are being used as a short cut by commuters travelling into the city and the hospital. 
We carried out a trial aimed at making the lanes more attractive and accessible for people walking and cycling by reducing the amount of traffic. This was intended to create a 15km network of quiet walking and cycling routes linking key destinations in Truro, helping to encourage more healthy lifestyles after the pandemic.
What did the trial involve?
Under the trial only residents and their visitors, and companies delivering to properties within the zone, were officially allowed to use the lanes. Vehicle prohibition signs were erected at 11 entry points, with the restrictions enforceable by the police. (see Plan below or view here)
The traffic prohibitions were made using an 'Experimental Traffic Regulation Order' (copy found here). A formal statutory consultation is part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order process during the first 6 months of the trial. Traffic and user surveys were also undertaken to assess the impact of the scheme.
Feedback from that process, alongside the user surveys and comparison of 'before and during' traffic monitoring data fed into the eventual decision on whether to make the traffic prohibitions permanent, to change the trial or scrap the whole idea.
The trial went live on Thursday 16th September 2021 and finished on 15th September 2022.
Update - October 2022 - Council listens to feedback as Truro Quiet Lanes trial comes to an end
The experimental trial to reduce through traffic using a network of rural lanes on the outskirts of Truro has ended and the results assessed. (See full results here)
The Quiet Lanes trial aimed to make a 15km network between Shortlanesend and Threemilestone safer for people wanting to walk and cycle there by banning motorists from driving through the narrow rural lanes unless they lived in the area or were making deliveries to residents.
Residents and commuters have been able to give their feedback before and during the year-long trial as part of the consultation process running alongside the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. That feedback, together with recent traffic surveys and discussions with local stakeholders, including local Cornwall councillors, has been analysed.
The conclusion is that the trial has not been widely supported and that there has been no material shift in the behaviour of motorists using those roads. As a result, the trial is ending, the restrictions have now been lifted, and the signs removed.
Funding for the trial has come from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel fund which supports measures to bring about a modal shift to encourage people to walk and cycle more, especially where the journey is a short one.
Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport Philip Desmonde said: “As part of this ‘living’ trial, a six-month statutory consultation period was in-built as part of the process to gather and assess the views of the public and stakeholders.
“The pre-trial user survey received 639 responses with 45% supporting it and 51% against the restrictions (The full results can be found here) – however the overriding majority of the circa 200 comments and emails received during the trial have been negative. The majority of these comments came from motorists who had previously used the lanes as a short cut to the A390. We have taken all the feedback, alongside the monitoring evidence, to make an informed decision on whether there are grounds to make the trial permanent, amend it or stop it. On balance, the decision is to stop and not make the order permanent as we take on board the valuable lessons that have been learned.
“For example, competing priorities for police resources and the difficulties in enforcing a ban in an area where access is still required to properties and businesses within the impacted area. Any future scheme will essentially need to be ‘self-enforcing’ or managed through the use of technology, as and when moving vehicle offences become enforceable by the Council.
“We’re committed to putting the infrastructure in place to enable people to make more sustainable choices about how they travel. Road transport is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions and around a quarter of car journeys in Cornwall are of less than three miles. We all need to look at how we travel and the changes we can make – big or small – that can help make a difference. It’s good for our health, the environment, and – in these increasingly cash-strapped times – our wallets too.
“This trial has helped us to understand the pressure points – which is exactly why the restrictions were introduced as a trial and not a permanent change. I'm disappointed that we have been unable to make it permanent, but given the response from motorists using the lanes as a cut through, it’s clear we need to look at providing more sustainable transport options, to relieve pressure on the A390 as well as supporting healthier, greener and more affordable ways of accessing services.”
Comments
I went through the lanes yesterday. I saw one person riding a horse and two cats.
This whole scheme has been a charade as well Cornwall Council knows and we have all been taken in by this.
These lanes are included in the Governs Park Preapp and have access restriction points included at four locations i.e Penventinnie Lane, lane past Newmills dam, lane to Little Canaan, and lane from Treworder Mill to Langarth Park and Ride.
Planned as recreational area for Langarth Garden village from the very start.
No point in a further survey as the closure is a done deal.
The public appears to have been duped from the outset. See planning application PA22/00841 for full details
Please will you let me know when the user survey will take place. Thank you
The latest traffic monitoring will not provide accurate statistics with regard to traffic flow through the lanes and B3284 Kenwyn Hill.
The A30 was closed from Chiverton Cross to Boxheater Junction for a week during the period of monitoring and traffic was diverted away from the B3284 via Goonhavern and the A390 thus figures regarding the lanes and especially Kenwyn Hill will not provide a true representation.
Is this purposeful timing to skew the figures or is there a hidden agenda here to manipulate statistics to support the continuation of the through traffic ban?
I went through the lanes late yesterday morning. It was a beautiful sunny day. I saw just two people walking and they were within 100 yards of their house. I don’t see any cyclists or horse riders.
I did see traffic counting apparatus though. It is also in place on Kenwyn Road. I haven’t seen the promised survey but then the last one wasn’t well publicised.
Extensive patching works has taken place throughout the Quiet Lanes in the past few weeks.
A sceptic may question whether these are repairs carried out at public expense in order to shelter those privileged residents within the trial area from future expense for what will be personal private access routes when " further measures to discourage through traffic" will be implemented.
The weather over several weeks now has been ideal for getting out and using the "Quiet Lanes" for exercise but fellow non motorised users are conspicuous by their absence.
These closures changed the route I regularly take from Falmouth to Allet. With the A30 closed on the weekend of 21/05/22, it significantly changed again the route I have to take. In fact, it was impossible to avoid going through the middle of Truro, which was gridlocked.
On my way home, I found my own street the diversion for another road closure in Falmouth. It makes me wonder: is the "quiet lanes" closure just a privilege for those rich people who live in that high value rural land just outside Truro? Why do "quiet lanes" not extend to urban estates too? Many people have to put up with traffic around their house, I don't see why they should be the exception.
I have regularly looked for the surveys promised for this spring. Has the decision been made about this TRIAL. If so it seems to have been made very quietly and perhaps undemocratically - no surveys as promised.
A beautiful spring afternoon yesterday, ideal for taking exercise. Whilst completing a 10K circular walk within the Truro Quiet Lanes area we saw not one soul either walking, cycling or horse riding. Less than half a dozen cars passed by so why are the lanes not proving more popular for exercising? Those locals with common sense knew all along that these lanes are unsuitable for all but the fittest for serious exercise due to the terrain and closing them was not justifiable
This scheme has been an excellent idea and from anecdotal evidence has brought about a significant reduction overall in the levels of traffic through the "Quiet Lanes" area. It is unfortunate that technically the trial was limited to 6 months during the Winter period when the number of people out using the lanes for exercise would be expected to diminish anyway. It is noticeable that as the weather has warmed up that the number of walkers and cyclists has significantly increased. Our family live in the area and use the lanes on a daily basis for walking & horse riding. It feels significantly safer than previously with much lower levels of traffic than previously. Clearly there are continued objections by the commuters using the lanes as shortcuts but these lanes were never designed for the traffic that was being experienced before the trial. They are narrow with lots of blind bends and are just not suitable for people in a hurry to get backwards and forwards to work. I also think that there is a case for a reduced speed limit of 20mph on these lanes in addition to the traffic restrictions to make them even more user friendly to people out to walk, cycle, or with horses. I note that in the surveys that there has been not much response from cyclists as I expect that many that I see are from further away than the consultation catchment area.
Makes the drive twice a day from Crantock to school really difficult. My children shouldn't be made to get up half an hour earlier than they already do each morning to sit for an hour in traffic. This scheme is badly thought through. I once used these lanes for an emergency trip into hospital, is that banned now too? A simple 20mph limit would have done the trick. Banning cars from the lanes just for a couple dog walkers and a snooty councillor is not right. Most days you see no-one taking advantage of the ability to walk car free on those lanes. On sunny days, you sometimes see someone walking, but rarely at 8am. This is a ridiculous scheme!
Makes the daily commute from Shortlanesend to Treliske really difficult. I really shouldn't have to spend an extra hour of my day (2x30mins) sat in traffic just because some high up councillor doesn't want people driving past his house. A simple 20mph limit would have done the job. Cornwall Council are a joke!
I am not sure when the next survey will be opening - it was due in February or March I believe. I have been walking and cycling the quiet lanes included quite regularly. The vehicles using them have certainly not all been local residents. However, virtually all of them have slowed down on approaching us, and given us a wide berth. This is more than I can say of many vehicles using the road from Higher Trehaverne to Idless, another quiet lane. Hardly any of them slow down at all. Rather than trying to prevent people taking a short cut, thus saving fuel and reducing city centre congestion, perhaps you should try to enforce the new regulations favouring pedestrians and cyclists.
Thankfully I can enjoy the lovely scenery the quiet lanes provide on foot. If the time comes when I can't I would hope I could drive round them .
Absolutely love the quiet lanes! Please keep it going. There are far too many people making short solo journeys by car that could walk or cycle. As a keen walker and cyclist, I am sick to death of the entitled motorist who thinks the roads are for them. Country lanes were NOT built for cars! They pre-date cars by a long way. At last, we get some space back and some peace and quiet. The wildlife benefits too and there will be a lot less road management for the council.
I live in Bodmin and used the roads to get to the hospital where I work. Using the back lanes the journey would take about an hour each way. having to now content with the traffic has added an hour to my round trip. The impact on my life, work and mental health due to this change has left me with no choice but to fine alternative employment. it is unacceptable that a decision made by the council has forced me to leave a job I am happy with.
As someone that has lived in this rural area for nearly 70 years and know the area well may I request that the residents of the Truro Quiet Lanes area show their respect to other legitimate users of the scheme. Too often have I been walking in the lanes only to have a resident pass too fast or too close. It costs nothing to give respect to others who may not reside within the scheme but are still entitled to use the roads. Please read the updated Highway Code rules and adhere to them
I live in sle and work on one of the industrial estates around tms. So far since this trial has seen on my mpg has dropped from 54mpg to 32 and it’s from purely sitting in traffic this has add extra costs around £10 a week (soon to rise with the way things are at present) on fuel and wear and tear to my vehicle but worst of all I miss nearly an hour with my children each day. I have to leave 15 mins earlier in the morning and it’s taking me at least 45mins in the evening to get home to them leading to later tea times, later bed times and my daughter is tired for school the next day. I can’t be the only person in this situation. How is this giving my family and I a healthier life style?
As a resident within the access only zone I feel the scheme has had moderate success.
There is still a fair amount of traffic and people clearly using the lanes as a rat run but no longer is it almost impossible to access my own residence in peak times. Every other vehicle I meet seems to be an A to B taxi. The behaviour and attitude of the majority of people using the lanes as a rat run is appalling. Driving way too fast, especially around blind corners, and almost always refusing to reverse.
That being said the attitude of the regular dog walkers is also poor. I don’t expect to be given dirty looks or scowled at on a daily basis driving to and from my own house, let alone when driving at 25mph.
The reality is it will be impossible to please everyone but I ask anyone ‘outraged’ by the new scheme to consider things from all perspectives. The lanes simply aren’t built to cope with such a large volume of traffic
Likewise, when walking the lanes we noticed areas have been marked up for repairs. Walkers and cyclists don’t require the full width of the road to be maintained to motorised vehicle standards. As predicted these lanes are albeit private drives being maintained by taxpayers money. Residents want traffic banned therefore the cost of maintenance should be apportioned and charged back to them. We await to see this chargeback recorded in Cornwall Council accounts. As recorded by the previous entrant, the maintenance of these roads either falls upon the residents as private accesses or to the public purse and the lanes re-opened to all users. The goal posts have been shifted and surveys delayed. Stop procrastinating as the situation is a mess. Causing travel delays, inconvenience, expense and detriment to family life to many is not acceptable in these difficult times for the spurious benefits to the few
Removed by moderator.
Did you know...
... that a third of journeys currently made by car are less than 5km long? Switching to walking and cycling where possible not only has great health benefits, but is also good for the environment !
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