Disruption expected for Malpas Truro 'connected river city' scheme

Residents in a riverside housing estate have been warned to anticipate roadwork disruption as a new scheme to improve green transport gets underway. Plans to improve safety and better connect Truro to its river could see a road junction in and out of the Malpas estate turned into a new park with tables and chairs and foot and cycle paths.

The proposals for Malpas Road are part of Truro’s Town Deal funded Green Transport project. This aims to improve pedestrian and cycling provision within the city, and increase connectivity by creating better and safer links with existing assets, such as the Newham Trail, Malpas and Boscawen Park and the national cycle network route.

In June 2021, Truro was awarded £23.6m of the government’s Town Deal funding. The Town Deal programme, developed in consultation with the local community, comprises seven projects that are designed to transform the city and local economy. The Malpas Road scheme is the first to be delivered as part of the Green Transport project.

The project team have been looking at ways to improve safety and provide better facilities for walking and cycling along the river edge on Malpas Road. The proposals include providing improved access to footpaths and new crossing points to connect people to the riverside, together with traffic calming features along Malpas Road.

A landscaped green space area will be created in place of the Pendeen Road roundabout, which will be transformed into a ‘T’ junction, together with new planting, paving, seating and footpath connectivity.

READ MORE: Healthy boy gets ultra-rare diagnosis after starting to feel tired

READ MORE: Landmark pub with campsite and holiday lets for sale

Join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and be first to hear what's happening near you - Cornwall Live

The Truro Town Deal Board has warned that as the work gets under way there will be disruption along the busy road for both local residents of the estate and those in Malpas village as well as for visitors enjoying Boscawen Park.

Alan Stanhope, chair of Truro Town Deal Board, said: "Our vision with the Truro Town Deal investment was to create a “connected river city” and the Green Transport project brings everything together by encouraging people to use active travel such as walking and cycling to move around the city.

"These plans are set to improve access along Malpas Road and make it safer and more pleasant to use the riverside as a pedestrian or cyclist –This is a chance to view the proposals and have your say."

A consultation to finalise the details is being launched on December 5. When built the scheme will be delivered in a series of phases to minimise potential disruption. The first phase – which involves the construction of the landscaped green space area – is currently scheduled to be carried out between January and March 2025.

This will be followed by further phases to improve existing footway kerbing sections, install new crossing points, carry out minor junction improvements, and complete resurfacing works. The whole scheme is due to be completed by the end of 2025.

The Truro Town Deal Board said: "The space constraints means that some sections of the road will need to be closed at various times to enable the works to be carried out safely. The project team are very aware of the potential impact of this on local residents and businesses, emergency services, and to visitors, and will be working closely with all stakeholders to keep disruption to a minimum.

"Details of the temporary traffic management measures are still being developed but are expected to involve using temporary traffic lights where possible to carry out works during daytime hours such as improvements to the existing footways and the proposed green space area at Pendeen Road junction.

"Road closures will be necessary to construct new crossing points and for kerbing and footway improvements in existing narrow sections of carriageway."

They said that road closures will be carried out overnight with noisy operations being completed within the evening period. Advanced notice of road closures will be provided for residents and local users to enable forward planning of their journeys within these periods of work. Access for emergency services will always be ensured.

The period of statutory consultation will run for three weeks from Thursday, December 5. This is being led by Cormac in partnership with the Truro Green Transport project team. Feedback from the consultation will be used to inform the final design for the scheme.

Details of the proposals, including maps and drawings, will be available to view on the transport consultation section on Cornwall Council ’s website : www.cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult from 5th December. Responses can made via the website and also provided via email at traffic@cormacltd.co.uk.

Information about the consultation, and the wider Truro Green Transport project, is also available on the Let’s Talk Cornwall site ( https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/truro-town-deal ) and the Truro Town Deal website ( https://www.trurotownfund.com/about/ ) . Please note that responses to the consultation must be submitted via Cornwall Council’s consultation site: www.cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult.

⚠️ Want the latest Cornwall breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice⚠️