A RECOMMENDATION that pavements should remain on Launceston’s Newport Bridge even if a separate pedestrian bridge is built has been described as ‘nonsensical’ by a town councillor.

The recommendation was made in a draft town study for Cornwall Council, which was discussed by Launceston Town Council last week. Developed by WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff on behalf of Cornwall Council, it states the overall aim is to reduce the number of local trips within the town made by car.

The recommendations include a separate bridge for pedestrians and cyclists at Newport, while retaining the existing footway.

Cllr Paul O’Brien said: “I have considerable doubts over one or two parts of the transport study. Putting a bridge over then not ripping out the pavement is nonsensical.”

Other major recommendations in the study include:

— At Dutson Road, Prince Phillip Road to Ridgegrove Lane — Removing the centre lines; 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 West Bridge 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.

Also recommended is 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.

There are also recommendations for the town square, including reducing the width of Broad Street, removing the zebra crossing and extending existing cobbles through to Westgate Street, extending pedestrianised surface finishes into loading and parking areas and considering reducing the number of servicing bays.

An expression of interest has been submitted to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to deliver two new pedestrian river crossings — the project is called ‘Connecting Launceston’.

The application for LEP investment by Launceston Town Council lists project expenditure as £1-million for the Ridgegrove pedestrian and cycle bridge with strategic links and £365,000 for the St Thomas pedestrian bridge.

The application states the schemes would be delivered by Cornwall Council on behalf of the town council.

Town clerk Rita Skinner said Cornwall Council felt the application ‘would have more weight if Launceston Town Council put its name to it’.

She added: “The logic of this is that other towns have perhaps received funding for projects ahead of Launceston and where we are lacking is having ready-made, costed proposals.

“This is the first steps to producing something like that.”

Cllr John Conway raised concern on the costings: “Ask the bursar at St Joseph’s School how much it cost to put in a bridge over the Kensey.

“Yes, we need it, but I don’t want to waste money for it.”

Deputy mayor Cllr Margaret Young said a meeting would be held in December, not open to the public, ‘to take this discussion further’. She said consultants would be present, as well as members of the LEP, and asked for suggestions of who else could be invited to the meeting.

Ms Skinner said the meeting would be an opportunity for the council to hear from consultants and Cornwall Council officers, adding: “We would also like to invite movers and shakers of the town.”

It was suggested by Cllr Paul O’Brien that the chamber of commerce be invited. It was also suggested that there should be police representation.

Neighbourhood beat manager PC Steve Stoppard, who was present, noted the date and time of the meeting in December, in the hope a police representative would be able to attend.

Cllrs O’Brien and Conway urged fellow councillors to read the report in depth before attending the December meeting.

Cllr Conway, referring to the draft study’s suggestion of removing the Newport roundabout, which he said would leave it ‘as a free for all’, added: “We know what the town is like. We need to look at this report in great detail. There are bits of it that are going to make things a thousand times worse.”