17 November, 2011
Cornwall could take back
control of its major trunk roads for the sake of its economic and
social prosperity.
According to saltashpeople.co.uk, Cornwall Council is to
consider a proposal that would see it asking central Government to
transfer the responsibility of Duchy trunk roads - the A30 and A38
- back into the hands of the local authority.
Should the move go-ahead, it means that Cornwall Council would
be responsible for the maintenance of the roads; both of which are
considered the main arteries connecting Cornwall to the rest of
England.
Councillors say that local authority ownership would make the
county's road network easier to maintain and therefore attract more
tourists. It would also benefit local businesses who use the road
network on a regular basis, as currently, the council has to wait
until government allocations are available before necessary road
repairs and maintenance work can begin.
"The trunk roads in Cornwall, A30 and A38, are critical
infrastructure to maintain and develop the economic and social
prosperity of Cornwall," reads the proposal for government.
"The congestion currently experienced on these roads is a cause
for concern if Cornwall is to continue to attract tourism and
business investment."
Commenting on the issue of infrastructure in the county last
year, George Eustice, Conservative MP for Camborne, Redruth and
Hayle, agreed, telling the Western Morning News: "As a
peninsula, Cornwall's economy depends on having good
infrastructure, and I want to look at ways of accelerating its
improvement."
On Wednesday members of the council cabinet will discuss plans
to take ownership of two strips of road specifically: the A38 from
Bodmin to Saltash and the A30 from Penzance to Launceston.
Even if the plans were approved, the Department of Transport,
who claims to have not ruled out the possibility of such a deal,
says that the handover of ownership would not likely take place
until at least April 2014.
Source: Vertical Leap
