THE town council in Launceston is keen to move forward in looking at the town transport strategy with Cornwall Council — and wants to involve the local business community.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said at a town council on Tuesday night that ‘it is only right’ local communities are consulted.

The draft Launceston Town Study, prepared by WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff, consultants to Cormac and Cornwall Council, was discussed at a meeting on February 8, as reported in this week’s Post.

It was a chance for councillors and other interested parties to make their views heard on the recommendations of the study, the aim of which is to reduce the number of local trips within the town made by car.

Recommendations include:

• a separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists at Newport, while retaining the existing footway

• At Dutson Road, Prince Phillip Road — Ridgegrove Lane — Removing the centrelines; replacing open drainage channel with slot drain and providing markings or low kerb and paved surface to delineate pedestrian zone

• removing the mini-roundabout at Newport Square and allowing a priority arrangement

• converting Westbridge Road to a footway crossover

• creating additional pedestrian space around Newport Roundhouse

• introducing a courtesy crossing on southern entry at Newport, and employing alternative surface finish within the ‘square’ area

• a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Kensey to the rear of the Co-operative supermarket, which would connect to a new pedestrian cycle route up to Ridgegrove Lane, close to the steps through from Prince Phillip Road.

Following that, at a town council meeting last week, it was agreed a working group of councillors and representatives of the business community would take the strategy forward with Cornwall Council.

Cllr Hogan said: “I think it’s important these decisions are made locally and it is only right local communities are consulted at least, and have some impact on what happens in their town.

“I think it would also be good to have representation from local businesses within the town.”

Cllr John Conway also suggested there should be a representative in the working group of the haulage industry — ‘someone who knows how to drive a 44-ton lorry’. He voiced his concerns at the earlier meeting to discuss the transport study that lorries are unable to manage in certain areas of Launceston.

It was agreed that the mayor and town clerk would decide on the composition of the working group.

It is understood the WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff team is collating the information gathered from its meeting and will draft a second, amended proposal before detailed designs are eventually worked on.

Further consultation on a newer draft form of the proposals is likely to take place later in the year.