CORNWALL Council have unanimously agreed to support the Camelford bypass scheme, with £6.5-million from the budget set to help deliver the programme between 2021 and 2023.

At the lengthy meeting of the cabinet on the morning of Wednesday, July 24, Cornwall councillors including Rob Rotchell for Camelford and Dominic Fairman for St Teath, St Breward and Delabole were there to voice their support for the project, as well as members of Camelford Town Council and town mayor, Cllr Claire Hewlett.

During the public question time, prior to the agenda item being discussed later in the meeting, Cllr Hewlett, who previously told the Post she would be ‘chuffed to bits’ if the scheme was approved, stood and addressed the cabinet to get an idea of the consensus amongst them.

Her first question was asking whether the cabinet agree a bypass on the A39 would be essential to the health and wellbeing of Camelford, to which portfolio holder for transport, Geoff Brown, responded saying a discussion of £6.5-million to be provided by the council is ‘demonstrating that these issues need to be addressed’. The £6.5-million is 15% of the total cost towards the project, with the total sum being £42-million.

Cllr Hewlett’s second question noted that the Camelford scheme is listed as number three on the priority results, and asked how likely it was that Camelford would be considered.

Cllr Brown explained that it was necessary to submit up to ten schemes, but only submitted six, and with Camelford at number three, it was looking ‘very optimistic’, suggesting everyone look at this ‘favourably’.

Further into the meeting, the bypass scheme was presented to the cabinet on the agenda. Cllr Brown gave a bit of background on Camelford’s current situation.

“The general congestion led to poor air quality, which has been a challenge for Camelford and the north coast. As a result, an air quality management area was declared in 2017. We now have an opportunity through the government’s new major roads networks scheme to tackle this issue, identifying schemes for consideration for the 2020 to 2025 period,” he explained. The meeting heard that in order for a scheme to qualify, it is sent against a regional evidence base with a 15% contribution to come from the local authority — in this case, £6.5-million for the Camelford bypass. Cllr Brown explained that the bids looked upon favourably are those which are ‘shovel ready’, and that the Camelford scheme ‘is one to be delivered quickly’.

Outlining the recommendation, Cllr Brown said in accordance with the resolution transport board, the cabinet supports the strategic outline business case to the Department for Transport to consider in the regional network 2020 to 2025 delivery programme, with a 15% local contribution of £6.5-million to be approved in principle.

With a number of councillors speaking in favour of the scheme, this included Cornwall Councillor for Camelford, Rob Rotchell, who thanked his colleagues at Camelford Town Council for attending the meeting before outlining his support for the scheme. He said: “The centre of Camelford contains the only single road along the entire Atlantic Highway from Barnstaple to Padstow — it’s not one lane running east to west and one running west to east, it’s one single lane. In 2014 the traffic flow through the town was just over 5,500 vehicles a day, in 2016 this had grown to 6,500 and this is predicted to be close to 7,000 by 2030.”

According to Cllr Rotchell, conversations regarding the need for a bypass in Camelford started in the early 1970s, which was followed by a formal bypass study between 1992 and 1994 when three potential routes were taken to public consultation, and a preferred route was chosen to be taken forward in April 2002. However, following a stop to government funding for this project in 2006, the scheme has been ‘put on hold until this day’. Levels of nitrogen dioxide in the area has been found to be in excess of the mean air quality standard by as much as 50%. As a result, Camelford was officially declared an air quality management area in 2017, where an air quality action plan was drawn up to consider the most viable solution to the town’s ongoing problem — the construction of a bypass.

Cllr Rotchell explained that the bypass is the ‘top transport priority’ for the entire network area, which he described as a ‘public transport desert’. In addition, he reminded the cabinet that vehicles travelling consistently at 60mph produce less pollution than those that are constantly stopping and starting, and with the introduction of a bypass, there will also be a decrease in noise pollution, as well as provision for cyclists and horses. There will also be a growth of opportunities along the length of the Atlantic Highway, from Barnstaple to Padstow.

He continued: “Two of the phrases that this council uses regularly are wellbeing and place shaping. The bypass is not just another road, it will significantly help improve the wellbeing of the local residents by taking away the pollution and traffic congestion and allowing greater opportunity to revive the town and create employment opportunities and give an area wrapped in deprivation a chance to blossom.”

He cleverly referred to the infamous quote from one notable achievement 50 years ago, adding: “One small step for Cornwall Council, one giant leap for Camelford. I urge cabinet to support this proposal.”

Amongst discussions, portfolio holder for climate change and neighbourhoods, Edwina Hannaford, asked for assurance that the council ‘will be looking at all mitigations and impacts of climate change of the road’, in line with the authority’s new climate action plan, despite noting the concerns surrounding Camelford residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as economic development being held back.

Cllr Brown replied: “I understand your concerns. As I said in the introduction to the climate change issue (discussed earlier on in the meeting), all programmes will include the commitment of everything we can do. But the overriding concern is our commitment to safeguarding (the people of Camelford) — I think that has to take priority.”

Cllr Loic Rich was in favour of the scheme, referring to the construction of the Wadebridge bypass in the 1990s and how the road has made the town ‘a lot better’ with people making ‘a lot of use of that bypass’. He also reminded the cabinet that a lot of the materials for this project were imported into Padstow harbour by ship, meaning much of the lorries and road-based transport did not occur. He urged Cllr Hannaford to note this process in regards to her earlier comments.

Cllr Brown brought discussions to a conclusion by stating the benefits to the entire Atlantic Highway, with an improvement of traffic flow and reduction of emissions expected from the scheme. As a result, the cabinet was unanimously in favour of supporting the proposal.

Following the meeting, Camelford mayor Claire Hewlett, who was watching eagerly from the public seating area while the cabinet discussed the scheme, told the Post: “It’s very exciting. It is only the first hurdle, but it is a mega hurdle! We can now progress to the next stage.”

Speaking about the benefits of the bypass for Camelford, Cllr Hewlett said: “As more vehicles come in it will take the through traffic round. It will generally make Camelford a more pleasant place to be. The big trucks will be gone and people can just enjoy our lovely, quiet town.

“The road in question is the only stretch of A39 in a single lane, so it’s like a bottle neck. The bypass will free up and make the flow of traffic easier for people so they can get to their destinations easily and without the stress afterwards.”

Cornwall Councillor for nearby St Teath, St Breward and Delabole, Dominic Fairman, who is also vice-chair of the Camelford Community Network Panel, was one councillor who voiced his support for the project during the cabinet’s meeting. Following the decision, he said: “The proposed Camelford bypass will not only have significant benefits for the residents of the town and their quality of life, but will benefit the wider area unlocking some of the barriers to productivity to any of the many rural businesses which relies on road haulage or timely deliveries. A vice-chair of the Camelford Community Network, I know that the plans are strongly supported by the other 16 parishes which attend our meetings and it has the potential to be a major boost to the whole area.”

Following the meeting, the Post caught up with Cllr Rotchell, who was delighted with the council’s unanimous decision to support the proposal. He said: “Effectively we’ve got as far as we can in securing the bypass for Camelford, and it will now go on to the Department for Transport. It has received strong support from the community, community network and Cornwall Council, so we have done all we can.

“It was a unanimous decision, which is good, and I’m absolutely delighted. I was in a strong position through my job at Cornwall Council as portfolio holder for adult social care to speak from a health perspective regarding the health and wellbeing of Camelford residents. I was very specific about health related issues, but then I was also able to speak for a second time, which is unusual, where I could speak more broadly about a range of issues and the benefits a bypass could bring.”

He was thankful to those who allowed him to speak for a second time to address the cabinet as councillors are usually ‘pretty restricted’ on speaking about a proposal.

He continued: “But overall, it’s great news. We are close, the finishing line is in sight.

“It’s also important to note that this is the only scheme going forward from Cornwall, which shows how important it is, not only to the community but to Cornwall Council as well.

“It is up to Cornwall Council, the town council and the people in the area to make Camelford a destination. There is still a bit more of the proposal work to do, but then it will go to the Department for Transport and then we will really be waiting on a decision from then which should come in the autumn. Then the work will start in 2021 with completion at the end of 2023.

“We’ve almost done all we can to make this happen. I’m absolutely clear in my mind that this is our golden opportunity to secure a bypass for Camelford. If we don’t secure this opportunity then I can’t see us being able to get the same funding in the future. This is our opportunity.”

Conservative MP for North Cornwall, Scott Mann has praised Cornwall Council for their decsion. He said: “I’d like to thank Cornwall Council’s cabinet for their approval of funding for the Camelford bypass. The £6.5-million signed off is a significant contribution to the total funding of £38-million needed to make the project a reality. The new road has been at the top of my agenda since I was first elected in 2015 and I will be continuing to lobby the Department for Transport to ensure the Government supports North Cornwall in delivering this vital piece of infrastructure.”

Cllr Rotchell is encouraging members of the local community to visit the town council’s tent at Camelford Agricultural Show on Wednesday, August 14 to find out more about the bypass scheme, where there will be a map of the proposed route and Cllr Rotchell will be available all day to answer any questions.

What are your thoughts on the bypass scheme? Are you pleased Cornwall Council has pledged its support? Write to us — [email protected] — to let us know what you think.