CONSERVATIVE prospective parliamentary candidate for North Cornwall, Scott Mann, paid a visit to Camelford last week alongside the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling.
On Wednesday, May 3, the pair visited Camelford so Mr Mann could demonstrate the town’s need for a bypass to the Secretary of State.
Meeting in the town’s main car park in the afternoon, Mr Mann and Mr Grayling were soon swarmed with both residents and supporters as they made their way towards the town centre.
Meeting at the traffic lights, where a lot of the commotion occurs on a regular basis, the Post asked Mr Mann how the visit was going so far. He said: “It’s been going pretty good. We’ve been speaking to the residents here to see how we could facilitate a bypass for the town. I’ve been working with members of the neighbourhood plan, and I know there’s been a lot of community work going on to try and get a bypass for Camelford.”
Mr Grayling told the Post he was due a visit to Camelford this month anyway, and was pleased to be finally able to take a look for himself. He explained that there has been an ‘increase in investment’, and that the purpose of his visit was to look at possible projects and, in this case, see if Camelford is ‘a suitable candidate for a bypass’.
He said: “This [scheme] would be county council-driven, so driven by the council, and would receive some government support. The council would bring the scheme and make the case, but we would provide the necessary resources for the bypass.
“I can see that the A-road has been neglected here.”
He went on to say that he is supportive of bypass schemes, and that he hopes schemes like this will ‘keep good members of parliament, like Scott, in’. He finished his talk with the Post by adding that the government will need to ‘get the General Election out of the way first’ before any major improvements are considered.
At the end of April, Green MEP, Molly Scott Cato, slammed the ‘shocking disregard’ for the UK’s air quality, after the government made it clear it was to delay action on tackling air pollution due to the ‘purdah’ period leading up to the General Election on June 8. The government has said that it will be unable to take action until a new government is formed on June 9.
When asked how he has brought Camelford’s air quality issues to attention, Mr Mann explained that he had spoken at ministers’ questions, and had brought forward two main points; one being to ‘highlight the air pollution problem in Camelford’, and the second being to ‘highlight Camelford’s need for a bypass’.
On April 24, Mr Mann addressed the town’s need for a bypass to Andrea Leadsom MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
He said: “The Secretary of State and other DEFRA ministers will be well aware of the challenges facing Camelford, in my constituency, which was recently subjected to an air quality assessment, and which is in the very early stages of being granted a bypass. I hope that the Secretary of State will support me, and the local community, in our bid for a new bypass in Camelford.”
In response, Mrs Leadsom said: “I would love to be able to offer my hon friend a new bypass, but unfortunately, that is outside my powers.”
During the visit to Camelford Mr Mann said: “We’ve also drawn out the old plans from 2004, with all the old costings, and now we’re trying to facilitate the money to fund a bypass in Camelford, which I estimate to cost between 18 and 20-million pounds.
“This is primarily funded by central government, but can also be funded by housing growth — but a bypass will generally require funding from housing too.
“I’ve also been in talks with Claire [Hewlett] from the town council, on Camelford’s neighbourhood plan, and we have been looking at alternative routes around the town to facilitate a bypass. I think it can be done.”
Mr Mann was keen for the Secretary of State to hear for himself about how much of an issue the traffic and poor air quality have become for residents and local people. He said: “I’ve brought the Secretary of State here today so he can hear from the people of Camelford, and so they can show him themselves — and it’s not just about the pollution, it’s about showing what a bypass could do for business here.
“We need to take the cars and lorries out so that the town can thrive.”
However, many residents have already made it clear in the past months that they are concerned Camelford will be overlooked by bigger towns, such as Truro and Redruth, who may be given priority.
The Camelford Clean Air Group, led by Claire Hewlett, has been campaigning to ensure their town is given priority. The members have held events and even a peaceful protest just a few months ago to let people know about the air quality issues lying in Camelford.
Camelford is among six other areas in Cornwall that have been declared air quality management areas. These include Truro, Bodmin, Tideford, Camborne, Pool and Redruth, St Austell and Gunnislake.
In January 2017, Camelford was finally declared an air quality management area, following a lengthy consultation process.
Air quality has been monitored since 2010, and levels of N02 are recorded in regard to the EU regulations. When levels reach 40ug/m3m there is ‘cause for concern’; when levels reach 60ug/m3, there is ‘serious risk’.
In 2014, Camelford’s air measured 62.1ug/m3 in one area of the town, whilst other parts measured over 40ug/m3.
In 2004, plans were set out for Camelford to have a bypass. However, this was never delivered due to a lack of funds.
The general feeling of residents, and members of the Camelford Clean Air Group, is that the town requires a bypass to overcome the chaotic traffic measures already in place and reduce the pollution in the air.
They have been supported by Mr Mann, who agrees that the town is in need of a bypass, and he has stated that he is determined to make sure Camelford is among the towns who will be prioritised for new traffic measures.
When the Post explained that many residents fear they will be overlooked, Mr Mann added: “That’s why I’ve got to make a lot of noise. By bringing the Secretary of State for Transport for the whole country here today, it just shows the commitment of the government in providing the necessary measures and support, and, ultimately, a bypass for Camelford.”
Speaking in Camelford, Mr Grayling said: “We [the government] provide substantial support on a regular basis for local transport schemes. This is a scheme, which would need to be brought forward by Cornwall Council, and given what I’ve seen in Camelford today, I will engage very constructively with that.
“I’m very clear that we need to provide more support for improvements on the ‘A’ road network. Not just on our motorways, not just on our principle trunk roads like the A30, but some of the other roads, and we’re going to be focusing more on those in the years ahead.”
Mr Mann added: “There are significant air quality problems in Camelford town centre, which I have raised with environment ministers, and the town has been designated as an air quality management area by Cornwall Council. I have also asked Cornwall Council to use a new £4-million road improvement grant from the government to help alleviate congestion and pollution in the town.
“We saw the benefits brought to Wadebridge with its bypass some years ago, with more people attracted to the town centre while there was less through-traffic.
“We can have the same in Camelford and I think a bypass would greatly benefit the town’s businesses. I’m very pleased to have shown the Transport Secretary around Camelford and I look forward to discussing the idea of a bypass with him further.”