A ROAD traffic scheme at Launceston's famous Prouts Corner should be scrapped and the junction returned to its former state, claims the Mayor of Launceston, Cllr Eric Chapman.

The pavement at the junction of Exeter Street and Dockacre Road where it meets the old A30 has been greatly expanded.

The sharp uphill bend once had to carry all the traffic on the main road — until the by-pass was built to end the regular congestion.

Cornwall highways department says the paved area was a better alternative to hatched markings — which would have worn out — and believes the system will work. They thought the best solution had been to build out the central pavement area

The Mayor says he cannot remember any accidents at Prouts Corner before the road scheme was put in place but it was now "an accident waiting to happen.

'OUT OF BLUE'

"It is incredible — they did not even inform the Town Council that they were going to do it. It was done out of the blue and we didn't have a clue."

He explained that the biggest problem was for motorists coming up Exeter Street to turn left into Dockacre Road were now forced to go out into the old A30 road to get around the built out pavement (see

pictures).

Previously, they could easily swing around to their left into Dockacre Road.

"Now they are pushing you out on to the old A30 to get around — it is stupid and confusing to everybody. I can't see the point of that.

"They have not improved it one iota. It

would have been far better left as it was when there were no accidents and now there is going to be an accident there."

Parked cars also forced cars heading from Dockacre Road towards the junction to be on the 'wrong' side, confronting those entering the road.

He wanted the highways department to scrap the scheme and said that the planting of a tree in the middle would mean that the foliage would obscure visibility even more (see pictures).