THERE could be another step forward soon on plans to rip out the pavements on Newport bridge in Launceston to make it wider for motorists.

The Post understands such a project would also entail providing a new pedestrian bridge over the River Kensey.

The idea has been talked about for a long time — town councillor Paul O’Brien said at a meeting of the town council in May of this year: “I think we have been talking to Cornwall Council for seven years with a view to ripping up pavement over Newport bridge so as to speed vehicles through there and cut down the time vehicles are idling.”

At the September meeting of the town council, when councillors were discussing improvements they would like to see to the highways networks, Cllr Rob Tremain said he would like an update on where things are with it, adding: “We have had many plans put before us — nothing’s happened.”

On Newport bridge, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston Central, Gemma Massey, who was at the meeting, said: “Following our site visit last month with Kate Kennally [chief executive of Cornwall Council], it’s going forward to cabinet,” but Cllr Massey was cut off, advised that for her to continue speaking, the meeting would have to suspend standing orders.

Cornwall Council’s cabinet is due to next meet on November 7.

Previous updates on the project to the town council included May 2017, when Cllr Massey said that historical teams had raised concerns about touching the original part of the bridge.

At the time she told town councillors: “It is very much being pushed. As it’s a small project it has unfortunately been the historical side of that bridge that has been the issue.

“We know it’s a quick, quite simple solution to start easing things in that area.”

Then at December’s town council meeting, Cllr Massey said it was progressing, and they were ‘just waiting for final funding and say so’.

At the September meeting, town councillors also put forward other ideas of highways schemes they’d like to see considered by the Launceston Community Network Panel, which has a new £50,000 a year budget.

Deputy mayor Cllr Dave Gordon said he would like to see the installation of bollards on Westgate Street where he said ‘parking is becoming unbelievably stupid’. Cllr John Harris agreed with this, but added he would like to see bollards installed on High Street as well.

Cllr Brian Hogan said: “I would like to see some initiatives to encourage better traffic flow throughout the town. As soon as someone’s trying to parallel park everything bottles up. They talk about air quality — standing traffic is not really going to help.”

Cllr John Conway said: “Can we have a green man on Newport traffic lights, so people can cross the road in safety. There’s a nursery there, so a lot of mothers with very young children.”

Cllr Paul O’Brien said he wants to see St Stephen’s Hill made one-way going up the hill.

Cllr Paula Bullen said she’d like to see something to reduce speeding on the ‘race track’ at Dutson Road, adding: “It’s fabulous it’s been tarmacked but even lorries now think it’s 90mph!”

Cllr Jane Nancarrow said: “I think Dutson is really dreadful and something does need doing there.”

Cllr Rob Tremain said: “Dutson pavement — many many years ago there were hatched markings on the right hand side going up, a pretend pavement. I would like to see a pretend pavement reinstated — just painted on.”

Mayor Cllr Margaret Young said: “My suggestion is we purchase a moveable speeding thing we can put wherever — like they have at Liftondown.”

A list of these suggestions were shown to the Community Network Panel meeting later that week, on September 20, alongside suggestions from the area’s Cornwall Councillors and parish councils.

Chairman of the panel, Stoke Climsland Cornwall Councillor Neil Burden, said the next Community Network Panel on December 13 will decide which schemes ‘go first in the first year’.