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
It amazing when areas have increased privilege how suddenly the area can become restricted for aspects of quiet & safety but when It comes to other areas, with lower income or more council properties, they can go whistle when it comes to restricted traffic. Helston has a similar issue.. no Quiet lanes there. The roads surrounding truro & access to the hospital are horrific. Perhaps CC need to look at this, rather than supporting upwardly mobile locals who complain about people who need to get to where they're going. A better solution would be to Provide pavements.
It amazing when areas have increased privilege how suddenly the area can become restricted for aspects of quiet & safety but when It comes to other areas, with lower income or more council properties, they can go whistle when it comes to restricted traffic. Helston has a similar issue.. no Quiet lanes there. The roads surrounding truro & access to the hospital are horrific. Perhaps look at this rather than supporting posh locals who complain about people who need to get to where they're going.
There is less traffic however now they just drive faster as they don't think they will meet anything
I note that the consultation document linked by DL has to be printed, completed and sent. Not exactly the way to encourage participation.
In addition to the traffic problems on Highertown, there is now more congestion on Kenwyn Road, Hendra Road and Station Hill. It can be very difficult to cross Kenwyn Road in the mornings.
The money for this should have been spent improving the existing network of paths with repairs to the surfaces and signage.
Congratulations, in ensuring the A390 between the Sainsbury’s island and hospital island is even more congested than before. Within the workplace many are now regularly late due to the 40 mins travel time. How can the council consider this scheme a sucesss for the masses, all but a few benefit on the quiet lanes. Whilst do not object to the scheme in principle investment in the consequence of such scheme, eg traffic management on the Sainsbury’s island is needed now.
I live in the new quiet lanes area, walk in it and drive in it everyday. I don’t think the restriction of vehicles is the answer and I can understand the complaints by those excluded. It’s at its busiest at commuter time and so long as you avoid walking at that time, it’s not so bad. Mostly I’m not enjoying the glares by the walkers when driving past (not at an excessive speed).
Well.... what's really funny is that over the last week in the rain and wind, the number of dog walkers and cyclists that I've seen in the lanes...zero. Not one single walker. I continue to use this route safely and slowly in my car, as 10mins of pollution is far better than 40minutes in my opinion. I feel that most of the views on here are against the supposed trial, but will the council listen.... probably not.
I agree that some people drive like idiots down these lanes, but the rest of us shouldn't be punished for this. Fully supportive of speed bumps or other traffic calming measures, but a total ban on access is unacceptable for those of us trying hard to earn a living. Those that want to walk the 'quiet' lanes all day should maybe do the same.
As someone who jogs and walks my dog around the quiet lanes near coosebean its been lovely not to have so much traffic on the roads. Previously I have not always felt safe due to the constant stream of cars and speed that some of them travel at. The lanes provide a great opportunity to get access to the countryside from Truro.
My daughter needs to get from Falmouth Road, Truro, out to Truro College every day for sixth form. I have noticed that the A390 is far busier than usual and our journey, which was already bad, is now taking twice as long and often involves sitting in a queue of traffic for about 40 minutes just to do three miles from home to college. I have realised that this may well be to do with the Quiet Lanes Trial and, if so, it is an absolute nightmare! I appreciate that you are trying to protect residents living near the 'quiet lanes' and encourage people to walk or cycle, but the cycle network leave a lot to be desired and the pollution you breathe in as you're walking is awful. It's hard enough for young people to deal with college and the workload involved without adding long, unpleasant walks at either end of their day ... and this situation will only get worse with the arrival of winter. I think something needs to be done regarding the A390 as it is unbearably busy and now there is absolutely no alternative. For what it's worth, I never used the 'quiet lanes' myself, but clearly a lot of people who did use them are now using the A390 and making it even busier than it was before. Please address this situation urgently.
This forum is good for getting things off one's chest but it probably won't count as formal feedback and may well be ignored. The link to make formal feedback is (deliberately?) quite hard to find - it's: https://www.engagespace.co.uk/cornwall/uploaddocs/Consult2008/QL%20consult%20letter%2016_09_21.pdf . If you feel strongly about this scheme (and most contributors obviously do) please send in your formal objections!
Are hard working members of the public being hoodwinked by what appears to be Cornwall Council's underhanded actions with regard to this trial?
The trial is taking place under the guise of healthy transport to work and promoting fitness but in fact appears to be instigated to support the Cornwall Council led Langarth Garden Village proposal.
Quote taken from the Langarth Garden Village scheme website Langarth.co.uk:
" We are currently working through a number of physical measures that will make the use of the Quiet Lanes as rat runs significantly less attractive than at present. New proposal to restrict vehicular access in some sections of the Quiet Lanes are part of the Langarth Garden Village proposal."
As such is one to assume that the Quiet Lanes are to be amenity facilities for this development thus supporting a higher density build and boosting profits?
The more research one carries out regarding the present trial in the Quiet Lanes the more on loses confidence in the integrity of Cornwall Council's ability to be open and honest about their motives. Can anyone else smell fish?
Surely it is impossible to police this trial, I walk these lanes regularly and although traffic is currently less once drivers realise that there are no consequences for using this route they will return.
The problem that MUST be addressed is the congestion on the main road and until then this will continue to be an issue.
Further observation on the trial - it appears to be less busy than before but and a big but is that the traffic still using the lanes seem to be going faster than before, and may be in some way a belief that less chance of meeting a vehicle coming the other way.
Thank you 50mins late for work, what a ridiculous idea. The M25 is not safe to walk on but they would not close that would they 🤦🏼♂️😡
Removed by moderator.
Can see both sides of the argument but common sense seems to be lacking in the proposal of quiet lanes. It was obviously going to have an impact on journey times for hospital workers and more congestion on other roads. Would it not be more beneficial to widen lanes ( where posible) and install traffic calming (speed bumps, camera's etc) to target the few idiots who use the lanes as a raceteack. As someone who does use the lanes as recreation walking my dog I have had scary moments by these inconsiderate idiots but having a quiet lane only shifts problems elsewhere. Cornwall Council take heed....not a well thought out plan.
It is hard to see any reasoned argument for this attempt to close an essential network of public highways. Do the closures benefit more members of the public than those who lose the benefit of use? No. Do the closures mitigate a serious safety risk? No. Do the closures improve traffic flow on alternative routes? No. Do the closures have an environmental benefit in reducing car journey time? No. Is there evidence of significantly more use by cyclists or pedestrians? No. Have the closures received overwhelming public support? No. Is there any economic benefit to the community? No.
I spent time walking quiet lanes all through lockdowns and beyond. Have hardly seen a person walking or cyclist for that matter. I am a keen cyclist but you leave a quiet lane to join major roads so not really a solution. More traffic is now backlogging on main roads. One of which is the main route to the hospital. As a taxpayer will quiet lane residents be happy to foot the bill for roads only for their personal use. Comprigney Hill is not a quiet lane. It is well within the boundary of Truro and how often have you cycled safely up or down there?? Not many pedestrian pedestrian s have been using it since the quiet lane s were implemented. All in all vote against!
These lanes should never be used as quiet lanes. We all pay our road tax so should be able to use them if nessecary. You are pushing more people to drive longer distances therefore more gases going into the atmosphere. Aren't you trying to be more greener then stop making people drive further. I work for nhs and it's not right for you to do this. When for some its 10 min drive, but you have made it longer. Numpties!
Awful , just awful.
For those saying to leave earlier, some of us don’t have that option.
I can not get into Truro until 0730 due my village connection on public transport. I then use the park and ride. Today, I got in at 751 to start work at 0830. 41 minutes to travel from bus station to hospital should be plenty. Today it has taken close to an hour. To move less than 3 miles. Traffic is rammed. This has a detrimental effects in essential NHS workers getting to work on time.
Having got home at 11 on yesterday after a long shift, I don’t think ‘getting up earlier’ should be expected - we need adequate rest time if you’d like us to be able to deliver patient care.
Selfish views of the few.
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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