AIR quality was, yet again, the height of discussion at the Camelford Community Network Panel meeting on March 21.

Among those attending was Nigel Blackler, portfolio holder for transportation. He has been working with Cornwall Councillor for Camelford, Rob Rotchell, and Conservative MP for North Cornwall, Scott Mann, in finding the most viable solutions for the air quality crisis in Camelford. Cllr Rotchell said that ‘diverting the HGVs is very possible, very soon, and will have a major impact on the air quality in the town’.

As part of a highways scheme, £50,000 is presented to each area, each year for four years. This money does not have to be spent all at once in a year, and can be added to the following year’s budget if necessary.

Since the subject of poor air quality in Camelford has been known, after the town was declared an Air Quality Management Area in 2017, many people have been longing for a bypass, diverting traffic around the town so the town centre can run smoothly and improving the air quality. Camelford first received approval for a bypass in 2004, but due to money issues, this was soon forgotten.

Mr Blacker said: “We have been having discussions on what we can do in Camelford. If we pick up exactly the same scheme, it would cost in the region of £30-million. We would have to go back and assess things in Camelford — things have changed in that time.

“Bypass schemes that are developed cost in region of £1.5-million. Since 2004, the problem has only got worse. Traffic levels have gone up by 10% and the need has got greater for a bypass in Camelford. But the question is, where do we get that £1.5-million to develop the scheme?”

Mr Blacker explained that he has been working with Mr Mann to see how the town could access funding for this scheme, and that the government is reviewing the road network in England. Highways England looks after 2% of the roads, whilst local authorities across the country look after the remaining 98%, the meeting heard. Roads are picked out of greatest importance to create a major road network, which elevates the status of the road.

By 2020, the government will make improvements nationally, which people can bid into for their own roads. Mr Blacker added: “We need to see if we can get the money together, and come back and develop the scheme we need in Camelford.”

He noted the ‘serious health impacts’ of poor air quality on residents, and added that while HGVs contribute 7% to overall traffic, they still create 40% of nitrogen dioxide in the air.

Cllr Claire Hewlett, a Camelford town councillor, Green Party spokesperson for North Cornwall and chair of the Camelford Clean Air Group, said: “We’ve been given two options, and it says £1.2-million in the report. How on earth does £50,000 have any effect on £1.2-million?”

Mr Blackler said that this money would contribute to experimental traffic order, which would help the town with its management of traffic and air quality whilst work is carried out to possibly develop a scheme for a bypass. He said: “It’s a big piece of work, and I can’t promise it will happen any time soon. That’s why the £50,000 has to add to the solution, so we can do more.”

Cllr Rotchell said: “The air quality in Camelford is toxic. We’re not just talking about traffic; we’re talking about the air quality every day in the town. It’s not acceptable.”

Town councillor Andy Shaw said that agricultural traffic must also contribute to the air quality problem, as they exceed the road limit weights and are ‘filthy’. “A bypass has been a hot topic from around 1984. In ’93, we were told it was ready to go; in 2004, it was ready to go — then they pulled the plug on it.”

Mr Blacker added: “If we do a project like this, we’ve got to do it at a pace, because the world around you is always changing. Timing is really important, and we’ve got to position the scheme well so we don’t miss out on opportunities.”