RESIDENTS of Kensey Valley in Launceston have voiced their opinions as to why they feel a link road in their area is not necessary.

However, the town’s mayor said the town council wants to create a ‘sustainable, resilient community’, which could be achieved through European convergence funding, and this could mean the creation of a Kensey Valley Link Road.

Kensey Valley Residents Association met last Monday, attended also by town councillors and two of Launceston’s Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillors.

Association members gave a presentation, and said future generations would ‘suffer’ from the construction of a Kensey Valley Link Road.

It is understood the Kensey Valley Link Road would go from Newport Industrial Estate through Kensey Valley, to the old A30.

The Post has previously reported that Cornwall Council is looking at allocating land in the Newport area of Launceston for housing through the site allocations development plan document (DPD), which will form part of its suite of planning documents under the umbrella of its Local Plan.

The site allocations DPD looks at allocating sites for housing and employment, as well as protecting existing employment sites.

The town council’s planning committee last month heard allocating land for housing through a site allocations development plan document (DPD) would enable the building of a Kensey Valley Link Road, should a developer come forward to build there.

The town council at its full meeting last month agreed it should not support that particular site allocation — LAU/H3 — just for housing, but that the land to the west of Ridgegrove Hill be incorporated into further light industrial/business/technology use along with such recommendations as come from the transport strategy group.

It was emphasised at last month’s meeting that the site allocations DPD is a working document.

Cornwall Council was seeking the opinion of the town council before formal consultation is carried out on the site allocations DPD, which contains the Kensey Valley site proposal.

Councillors are set to decide whether to approve the document for public consultation tomorrow (Friday) at Cornwall Council’s planning policy advisory committee meeting.’

Nigel Crabb referred to a statement at a previous town council meeting from Cllr Rob Tremain, who said there was a consultation in 1997, when 75% of residents were said to be in favour of a Kensey Valley Link Road.

Mr Crabb said the Kensey Valley housing estate had not been built in 1997, and on the consultation, added: “We don’t know what the question that was asked was. Evidence from 20 years ago can’t count for much in 2016.

“At present there seems to be no consensus what the problem needing to be solved by the link road might be.

“If you take it upon yourselves to drive this road through it’s future generations that will suffer.”

John Belsey, hon chairman of Kensey Valley Residents Association, raised concerns about HGVs travelling through Liftondown, down to Polson, adding: “The bridges flood regularly. Are the bridges strong enough? Has anyone looked at it?

“What you all forget is about tourism. If they were to come via Kensey Valley Link Road they wouldn’t come by the Castle.”

Mr Belsey said the link road would not help what he perceives as the main traffic problems — the traffic lights at Newport and Newport Square.

He added: “We of Kensey Valley do not want the link road and any more housing.”

Resident Nick Toulson said children play around the area it is understood the link road would run through, adding: “There is no play park that we know.”

Resident Jessica Williams added: “If the link road is built parents will feel it is not a safe area for their children to play anymore.”

Mrs Williams said this would cause people to travel to other areas to take their children to play, which she said would ‘add to ongoing congestion problems’.

Referring to a 2004 report on the Kensey Valley Link Road by Vivien Pomfrey, Mrs Williams said Ms Pomfrey described the Kensey Valley Link Road as ‘moving an existing problem to a new location’.

“As Launceston develops, will the natural landscape be respected and protected?,” she added.

Mr Toulson added on the possible link road: “Unfortunately if it does go ahead it will be too late to do anything about it. What we are asking, in all your discussions, that you look at every last bit and everybody’s point of view.

“It’s going to affect the whole of the town and other people. Once it happens you can’t turn back the clock.

“I strongly believe what we have got to say needs to be heard.

“Instead of spending your money on a link road, look at regenerating the industrial estate at Newport — make it look like what people acutally want to go to. If it looks a mess it doesn’t matter if there is a link road to it or not.”

Resident Chris Walker raised concerns that there was no access to a footpath across the valley, but said he had approached the deputy town clerk, who said this would be looked into.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan said the town council would ‘listen to all the community’, and read out a statement on its behalf: “For the past few decades the town council have tried to find a way forward to create a sustainable, resilient community, support economic growth, create local employment, improve access to amenities and provide wider benefits to the whole community and the town of Launceston.

“Whilst we have been unable to deliver our aspirations in the past we are currently developing a plan for the whole town, as an opportunity has arisen to explore convergence funding [from the European Regional Development Fund].

“We are looking at opportunities to re-invigorate Newport and attract an innovation centre, which would act as a driver for growth, strengthen employment opportunities and access to amenities, improve connectivity and maybe end up with the road extension from Kensey Valley Meadow.

“We believe we must pursue this opportunity, which hopefully may now enable us to deliver our aspirations for the town.”