SCOTT Mann, Conservative MP for North Cornwall, has continued his campaign to address traffic congestion and air pollution in Camelford after making representations to Cornwall Council and government ministers.

Hot off the heels of the government announcing £26-million for Cornwall’s roads for 2017 and 2018, Mr Mann wrote to portfolio holder for transport, Bert Biscoe, urging him to fund road improvements in the town.

The £26-million bonus is made up of three components, including £20-million for road maintenance from the highways maintenance block; £4-million for road improvements from the national productivity investment fund (NPIF); and £2-million from the pothole action fund to repair 35,000 potholes.

In his letter to Cllr Biscoe, Mr Mann asked him to outline any preliminary plans for the £4-million from the NPIF and urged him to fund road improvements in Camelford to address congestion and air pollution.

Mr Mann wrote: “Camelford is experiencing large amounts of congestion with the A39 running straight through its town centre. This is causing both noise and air pollution, with the latter of particular concern for peoples’ health.

“Ideally the town is in much need of a bypass — both to solve traffic issues and spur economic growth — but in the short term, action does need to be taken to relieve congestion in the town along the existing main road. I would therefore like to request that Cornwall Council use this £4-million from the national productivity investment fund to implement measures that will address congestion and air pollution concerns in the town.”

Mr Mann added that the money must be spent on ‘worthwhile projects, which the residents and taxpayers of Cornwall actually want and need without unnecessary wastage’.

Mr Mann has previously criticised Cornwall Council in the past for the amount of money spent on implementing a bus lane in Truro, which was scrapped after just 21 days, and was estimated to cost £60,000, and approximately £100,000 spent on Italian trees in Pool, which later died.

Following his letter, the MP then brought the issue to government ministers in the House of Commons on Thursday, January 19.

Addressing ministers from the department for environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA), Mr Mann praised the work of Camelford Town Council and local residents for their work in tackling air pollution, and asked if the department would help with these efforts.

In response, environment minister, Dr Therese Coffey, said that ‘national government have their part to play in finding solutions to tackle local congestion issues, but so too does local government’. She added that the department would work with Mr Mann to address concerns in Camelford.

Commenting on his campaign, Mr Mann said: “The residents of Camelford clearly want something done about traffic and air pollution. The town got so very close to getting a bypass in 2004, and the case for one now is even stronger.

“We do have to be realistic however, and recognise that a bypass is a long term solution. That’s why in the meantime I want to see improvements made to the existing roads so that congestion and air pollution can be addressed.

“I hope that Cllr Biscoe sees merit in my request and that some of this £4-million is ring fenced for Camelford.”