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
Definitely noticed a huge increase in traffic around Treliske roundabout in the morning of all the individuals that would usually use the back lanes to travel to the hospital instead. Poor idea by Cornwall council to turn it into a quiet lane just to satisfy the councillors that live on that lane.
Regular cyclist to Rcht from shortlanesend since the trial went live no difference in traffic volume through the lanes and without any enforcement processes in place motorists will continue to use these lanes I suggest a the local authority monitor traffic at peak times
I feel that as a key worker, restricting the use of the lanes is a poor decision given the current situation with the roadworks on the A30. I have used the lanes on many occasions, not as a first choice but when the traffic leading to Chiverton Cross has been so bad that if I didn’t I would be very late for work, bearing in mind I have to use the park and ride as well.. The lanes are generally quiet, I see very little traffic and drive at a suitable speed for the conditions… There have been occasions when the A30 has had queuing traffic from Marazanvose to Chiverton and indeed been closed completely due to accidents. I feel that this unjustly penalises people just trying to get to work…
needs cameras to monitor as it's being flouted.
Who in reality is going to use the network of lanes for recreational walking? As a resident in Threemilestone I’d have to cross the ridiculously busy, congested and polluted A390 road to even get to the lanes. Ironically, a Cornwall Council Cllr informed on a local fb page, they had been informed it is still legal to drive your car in these lanes to park and walk or cycle for recreational purposes. If that is the case then surely this blows the whole concept of the quiet lanes out the water as what a loophole of an excuse people can use for driving down there during the closure! I used to use these lanes to travel between TMS and SLE to take my child for health & fitness sessions weekly. We now have an additional 20 - 25 minutes added to the journey by having to travel on the already congested alternative routes in either direction. How is that good for the environment and for those who live alongside those routes? It’s just passing the problem to somewhere else and affecting more residents and commuters than those affected in the quiet lanes area. When using the lanes previously, other than drivers who were sometimes incapable of reversing or manouvering in narrow lanes, I hardly ever encountered people using the lanes for recreational walking or cycling and certainly not when it is dark! Maybe more focus should be on making the lanes safer by speed reducing measures rather than a full blown closure to the majority of sensible car drivers?
Living in shortlanesend, just after the end of the quiet lanes, it makes a 5 minute drive to work (hospital) a 20-25 minute drive and makes congestion worse on the main roads
I think this is an absolutely ridiculous idea. The main roads around Truro are completely unfit for the amount of cars that are currently using them. Pushing people off the back roads on to those roads will cause even more trouble at bust times. Also it seems like this will require alot of policing which will be an absolute waste of thier time. They don't seem to be able to do what they currently need to.
Personally I use this lane as I work in the hospital. I certainly do not drive it fast as there are too many sharp corners to be speeding on through. If I went the main road way I would be stuck in traffic and it was taken me over an hour to get to work. I would agree to speed bumps or give way signs to reduce anyone else speeding but this way gets me to work on time. If this plan goes ahead then I’m praying nhs staff working at RCHT would be included at least.
Silly decision. Congestion worse than ever, You may have now sort to have a quiet area with no cars but you have doubled the carbon footprint with congestion alone. Awful plan.
The increase in traffic through Truro via the Kenwyn rd, past the station and then along the a390 towards the hospital is now even more terrible than it was in the mornings. Children are walking to school along these roads next to queueing cars pumping out gases for them to breathe. I need to spend at least 15 mins extra in the car every morning in order to get to work at the same time. How is increasing the traffic on already congested roads a good answer to this problem? Clearly the best solution is a variety of routes into the hospital/town so that not everyone needs to go the same way. Perhaps widening one of the lanes to make it suitable to take the traffic would be a better way of protecting the other lanes? With more estates being built around the a30, traffic volume is only going to increase further. Awful idea.
It’s a ridiculous concept, since this happening congestion in Truro has risen significantly. Once again Cornwall spending money on something that’s not needed.
The quicker this is reversed the better. The convince of a few to inconvenience the many, lived in the area for 33 years and rarely ever came across anyone using the lanes on foot. Iys selfish, ridiculous and enfuriating that this trial is even going ahead.
Car going too fast collided with my neighbour this am. 18 yr old on way to college.
The “don’t go there” message isn’t working. People will always use the roads….we need traffic calming measures such as proper nasty speed bumps or cameras and fines….
Racing commuter pays no head to "Quiet Lanes"
Well proof that the trial is not working or having the desired effect. This morning a neighbour (lives within the quiet lane zone) was heading back home and had an accident in the quiet lanes. Other vehicle was going too fast and turned over onto its side, fire brigade had to be called. Other car we believe to be from outside the zone was rushing to get to the sixth form college, travelling too fast for the conditions and unable to stop in time when presented with another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.
Someone is going to get seriously injured or worse unless the excessive speed is managed or the zone policed in some way. We sometimes walk down here with our granddaugher in a buggy - we would not have been able to get out of the way if this vehicle had been travelling at the speed to overturn onto side. A picture is available.
The traffic on the major routes has been made worse as a result of this trial, with traffic queues increasing in size and duration. The traffic on the A390 now queues around Sainsbury’s and County Hall at several times during the day, not just commuting times. This is adding to environmental damage as those who have no other option but to use a vehicle to get to work are now adding to increased pollution by sitting in the queues caused by this scheme pushing traffic onto main roads. To prohibit those commuting to key locations, e.g. hospital and the college, is part of the problem and those who work at these sites should be allowed to use these quiet lanes to ensure they can get to and from their place of work and provide the key services they are providing. What they don’t need is additional time and mileage added to their essential journeys and they don’t need to be adding to the traffic jams and pollution caused by this scheme. It needs to be remembered that not everyone who works in Truro lives near to it and the woeful public transport makes it unviable to get to work any other way than driving.
I understand the residents problems with excessive traffic. Please give NHS and essential workers a viable way to get across Truro and into work on time. The build up of traffic is causing serious delays all throughout Truro, this will only get worse with all the new building works and volumes of traffic from additional householders. The park and ride doesnt work enough hours to make a difference to the shift workers.
Reopen the lanes before a new Cornish Rebellion starts.
This trial is meant to improve health but has lengthened commuting times, journey distances and environmental pollutants. How more wrong can Cornwall Council get it than by closing these shortcuts? For those living in the lanes saying how bad it is living with the traffic, don't be such NIMBYs
Cornwall Council has shown a lack of common sense by KowTowing to a moaning minority to the detriment of the majority.
Until retiring recently, I used to cycle and drive the lanes between Shortlanesend , Treliske and Threemilestone for work and all other needs of family life. The only problems I had were potholes,the occasional driver unable to reverse and a few inconsiderate dog walkers not keeping their dogs under control and nearly causing accidents.
I still drive these lanes for legal access and walk them most days to keep healthy and am finding the lanes are more dangerous. Delivery vans use the lanes as a shortcut travelling faster than before, obviously not expecting to meet traffic.
Whilst on my walks I only see one or two other walkers and a couple of regular commuting cyclists
These long established routes through the Quiet Lanes should be open to EVERYONE just as by law EVERYONE is entitled to use long established footpaths, bridleways and byways.
Cornwall Council has used the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) just like a dictator.
An ETRO does not require public consultation but all relevant bodies i.e. businesses and recognised representative bodies must be consulted before implementation. The Council failed to do this properly. There is even an error in the schedule of the ETRO.
Th ETRO should be withdrawn NOW and the lanes reopened so that normal life in the area may be resumed . What remains of the £607K Government Active Travel Fund money can then be used for better links between communities.
Within the schedule of the ETRO there is indeed an error. Anyone familiar with the area should be able to identify it. These lanes are safe to walk and are not short cuts as they are long established routes for those living on the periphery to cross the valley and should remain open to all. On every country lane one drives with self preservation in mind as there are always those that drive inappropriately. In 50 years of driving these lanes I have never encountered a problem. Where are all the purported walkers and cyclists? I walk here most days and am lucky to see 1 maybe 2 other people
There's no glaring error Erg, and I support the quiet lanes having had a couple of near misses with people speeding into truro using them as inappropriate shortcuts.
I have cause to use the 'Quiet Lanes' to access Truro on a daily basis. Not only do they serve to alleviate traffic from the overwhelmed main roads into Truro, exascerbated of late by the expansion works on the A30 and the popularity of the county amongst tourists, but they would appear to be, wholly unsuitable for a stroll in the countryside. The route I would take, has a total of four houses along it and no housing of any quantity, amenity or other facility from the start of the lane, so I am a total loss to think where these 'local walkers' are going to appear. Indeed in the two years I have been using this lane, I have never seen anyone walking along it.
There is no reason that cyclists and cars cannot share these roads safely as they do all the other roads in the county.
The claim that designating these roads 'access only' will have a beneficial impact on the environment is obsurd, frankly. The additional time taken by every road user trying to access Truro using only the main roads who would otherwise have used these roads will far outweigh any potential benefit to the environment.
I wonder, do these people who live along these lanes pay additional road tax or more council tax to have private use of the roads that are paid for and maintained by the taxpayer?
The whole scheme appears ill advised, poorly considered, inequitable and elitest.
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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