COUNCILLORS and residents have called for users of a historic Truro lane to petition Cornwall Council in a bid to enshrine in law its status as a public footpath.

Piggy Lane runs between Valley View and Penwethers, and borders the ongoing Wain Homes development at Dudman Farm. Locals estimate the track has been used for access and leisure since the mid-1700s.

However, at Truro City Council’s last full meeting, Cllr Rob Nolan (LibDem, Boscawen and Redannick) alerted fellow councillors to the fencing and cameras installed on Piggy Lane to prevent access.

Newbridge residents Richard and Helen Perkins have set up a web portal providing an official Public User Form and all required information for Piggy Lane supporters to download a form to be sent to Cornwall Council registering their use of the lane, in the hope sufficient interest will trigger action towards formally designating Piggy Lane as a public right of way (PROW).

“When we moved here eight years ago, we started using the lane and there were always lots of people there,” said Mrs Perkins. “There was a footpath sign, and the lane connects with other footpaths, suggesting it was designed as a circular route at some stage.

“But since the Dudman Farm development was given the go-ahead, the footpath sign has disappeared, big barriers have gone up and people are being told they have no right of way. To block it off with no explanation seems a bit unkind to say the least.”

At the council meeting, Cllr Karen La Borde noted that while Piggy Lane sits in Truro parish, many users come from neighbouring Kenwyn parish. Consequently, Kenwyn Parish Council has been advocating for the expedition of a definitive map modification order (DMMO) that will allow the track to be identified as a PROW. This order was submitted by the Ramblers Association in March 2020, highlighting the historic nature of the lane.

Cllr La Borde said: “I’ve been advised that residents should provide information to prove how much this track is used, in the hope this will pull the DMMO up the list.

“These definitive map orders should not take over six years to complete. An underfunded department is letting down the residents of Cornwall and their rights to be able to access green space.”

A Wain Homes spokesperson said: “Although we are building new homes nearby, the land in question does not form part of our development and is not owned by Wain Homes. It remains privately owned so we are unable to answer questions about public access.

“We have been given permission by the landowner to access the land for a period of time to enable some groundworks on our development and, of course, will take necessary precautions to ensure public safety.”

Mrs Perkins has established through a Land Registry search that the land is owned by a development company called Tricky Truro, which Companies House confirms is registered in Northumberland and whose director is based in Jersey.

The Voice was unable to contact Tricky Truro before publication.