A safe cycling and walking route between Newham and Truro city centre must be delivered, according to cycling campaigners. 

The council has halted a controversial scheme for a cycling and walking path through Newham Industrial Estate, which involves narrowing the busy road which takes lots of heavy vehicles. It is currently working with the Newham Business Improvement District (BID) on a solution that avoids going to court. 

But Truro Cycling Campaign claims the route could unlock great health benefits for the people of Truro and help make the city a better place to live, as well as helping the council reach its target for Cornwall to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Campaign spokesperson Sarah Wetherill called on both parties in the dispute to come to an arrangement which allows a direct route to be delivered as soon as possible.

She decried “a lack of safe and healthy active travel options” and claimed physical inactivity is costing the Cornish economy over £100 million annually, with only 49 per cent of children and young adults achieving the nationally recommended level of physical activity, storing up problems for the future. 

“Truro is not a big city but it suffers year-round traffic congestion,” she said. “Congestion causes poor air quality, higher CO2 emissions and has economic costs. A safe walking and cycling network would provide an alternative for many car trips and help achieve more active lifestyles.”

A key part of the Truro Loops project, the Newham Trail has been upgraded to an attractive, year-round route for walking and cycling between Highertown to Newham, with access to a quiet route towards Playing Place and Devoran. This level route is away from traffic so even young children can use it safely.

However, it ends in Newham Industrial Estate, 1km from the city centre. 

“A connection is needed to enable people to get to the city centre from south and west parts of Truro, and workers in Newham to get to work by foot or bike more easily,” said Ms Wetherill. 

“A safe direct route to the centre would make it easier to get to and from the city without always using the car, cutting down on traffic. This opens up the possibility, with further planned improvements, of a safe route from the city centre right out to the many miles of mining trails covering mid-Cornwall.

“This current opportunity to provide the missing link in an important cycle network must not be lost.”