AN online petition has been set up calling on councils to bring cycling to Launceston.

The petition on Change.org, called ‘bring cycling to Launceston’, was set up by Matthew Theobald, who lives in the town.

Mr Theobald, 24, told the Post he wanted to set up the petition after reading the Launceston Notice Board Facebook group, when someone asked for ideas of where they could cycle locally.

He said he suggested the town’s Coronation Park, but added “I got told the park wasn’t available to cycle in”.

He added: “It got me just thinking about it and there’s not many places [to cycle].”

Mr Theobald wrote on the petition that there are cycling trails in other areas, mentioning Tavistock and Sourton, and said he would like to see cycling trails in Launceston. He said: “Why are the people of Launceston limited to public carriageways?

“It leads in to a bigger question about the development of Launceston. It’s strange Tavistock has the Drake’s Trail and Okehampton has their trail. Nothing’s linked into Launceston.”

He said he was ‘skeptical’ on setting up the petition, which has gained more than 120 signatures, but added: “When trying to change things, everyone likes to moan but nobody does anything. This is the easiest way to get anything done.”

Mr Theobald set up the petition around a month ago. He intends to deliver the petition soon to Launceston Town Council and Cornwall Council.

While part of the online petition is about calling to ‘remove the restriction on cycling in Coronation Park’, chairman of Coronation Park Trust, Dave Gordon, told the Post he does not believe there is such a restriction.

He said the park is not run or managed by either Cornwall Council or the town council. Coronation Park is an open public space that was donated to the town by Mr Charles Gilbard back in the 1930s, for the benefit of the people of Launceston.

Since this, he said, Coronation Park has been run and managed by trustees, who are responsible for the day to day running of the park, along with its infrastructure and its safety.

Mr Gordon added: “A further fact that I do not think is common knowledge locally, is that the area we all call and assume to be Coronation Park is in fact made up of two separate pieces of land, that being Coronation Park and Windmill.

The higher parcel of land known as Windmill is owned and managed by Cornwall Council.”

On cycling in Coronation Park, Mr Gordon added: “Since I have been a trustee I have never been aware that cycling has been prohibited within either Coronation Park or indeed Windmill, and as trustees we have never attempted to stop anyone from cycling through the park, there are certainly no signage within the park stating otherwise.

“However, there is a considerable difference between someone cycling through the park, and a group of cycling enthusiasts racing around its paths and grass areas.

“It must be remembered that Coronation Park is a public open space for people of all ages to sit, rest or play, and as trustees it is our responsibility to ensure that whoever uses the park can do so safely.

“I would fully support the introduction of a suitable designated cycle route in Launceston, and it must be remembered that there was a plan to introduce an off road cycle route through the Kensey Valley, known as the TRAC project.

“Unfortunately through no fault of the town council, this project failed, and as a community this facility was lost to Launceston.”

Mr Gordon said he would welcome suggestions to improve the park, and that any would be forwarded to the trustees at the next available meeting for discussion. Mr Gordon can be reached on 01566 774706 or by emailing [email protected]