CORNWALL Council took the decision to postpone last week’s A39 Atlantic Highway Camelford Improvement public consultation due to the upcoming General Election on December 12.

An engagement for landowners and councillors last Thursday was called off as were two public engagements at Camelford Hall — one being from midday to 9pm on Friday and one the next day from 10am to 2pm.

In a statement, Cornwall Council said: “The run-up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections is considered a ‘pre-election period of heightened sensitivity’. This period runs to 10pm on December 12, when the polls close.

“During this period the council is statutorily bound to comply with the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. Amongst other things, the council should refrain from publicity pm issues that are potentially politically controversial, or which might be interpreted as providing support for any candidate (s).

“That includes:

• possibly having to suspend the hosting of material produced by third parties or close to public forums during the pre-election period to avoid breaching any legal restrictions.

• During the pre-election period, not publishing any publicity on controversial issues or report views of proposals in such a way that identifies them with any individual candidate or party.

• Publicity relating to individuals involved directly in the election should not be published by local authorities during this period unless expressly legally authorised.

“The restrictions the council has to comply with are similar to the restrictions Government departments such as the Department for Transport have to comply with.

“The engagements relating to the A39 Atlantic Highway Camelford, will therefore not go ahead and will be rearranged to take place in the new year on dates yet to be confirmed.”

Mayor of Camelford, Claire Hewlett admitted that it was disappointing, but that she was pushing the council as to when it can happen.

She said: “It was very short notice, every household in the parish had received notification of the consultation and an outline of the route for discussion. So it’s extremely disappointing and just a little bit frustrating but I understand the postponement was due to legal advise received by Cornwall Council due to Election Purdah Regulations.

“We have been assured by Cornwall Council that this will not delay the process overall. However due to the General Election, the information that we were expecting to get from the Department of Transport  at the end of December may well be pushed into the middle of January.  

“Please rest assured that myself and my fellow town councillors will not let this ‘disappear’.  I’ve already stated to Cornwall Council, in strongly worded terms, that we need new dates for the public consultation without delay.”

Cornwall Councillor for Camelford Rob Rotchell said: “It’s obviously not what we wanted but it won’t delay the overall process. The town council and myself have already engaged with the local community on a number of occasions about the bypass and will continue to do so until the cancelled events are reinstated after the General Election.”