RESIDENTS living in a residential estate in Trencreek say the area has become dangerous since the level crossing was closed to traffic following the entrance being used as a turning space.

Motorists caught out by the Trencreek crossing closure have been using Crossing Mews to turn back around where children regularly play.

Residents believe Cornwall Council should erect more signage indicating the road is now a cul-de-sac before an accident occurs.

They are also calling on the unitary authority to remove signage to the household waste recycling centre and Trencreek Holiday Park to reduce the confusion for motorists.

Residents would additionally like an adequate turning space created that is big enough for lorries, caravans and cars to turn without having to use the entrance to Crossing Mews.

Resident Marie Louisa Hutchinson-Ralph said: “There needs to be signage that is visible, not hidden in a hedge behind another road sign.

“There needs to be an adequate turning space for the cars and, motorhomes and vans coming down here to get to the tip because Sat Nav’s take months to amend themselves and there will always be rogue ones coming through.

“It’s a narrow road and it means drivers are having no choice but to reverse up, then use our estate, reversing in, where small children live, as a turning space.

“When the consultation came out residents agreed it was needed to close the level crossing to vehicles, but not using us as the turning space, which was the council’s suggestion. This is a small residential estate with high numbers of children here.

“Also, pedestrians will be walking across that narrow part where there is little to no road and with reversing large vehicles and it’s an accident waiting to happen.

“It is unfair that the council didn’t plan this logically or consider the needs of residents.

“Residents the other side of the level crossing are more than happy as they have an adequate turning space in the road there but we don’t. If they had a steady stream of numerous vans, cars and lorries blocking their access route daily they’d be the first to moan.

“Cornwall Council should have removed the tip signage and holiday park signage before they started work so it stops traffic from thinking maybe there is a mistake.

“They should put signage actually in the road to make it more clear and slow traffic down, not hide it behind another diversion sign for the roundabout at Hendra.

“The council should also put signage on the opposite side of the road so anyone thinking they can still come to the Trencreek road from Hendra clearly knows there is now a new route.

“Also, why are there bollards only to close the level crossing to traffic and no gate? People can simply walk onto the track while trains are coming through now.

“There are lights but that doesn’t act as a barrier for a small child or animal wandering across while a train is coming. I have never seen a pedestrian access at a railway crossing without a physical barrier to prevent wandering people.

“There simply seems to have been zero forethought on this.

“No one wants a steady stream of cars, vans, caravans and motorhomes keep turning on their estate because the council didn’t think to put in adequate turning space for the number of vehicles coming down here.

“I have no objection to the level crossing being closed to traffic but it’s the poor execution that is holding us up daily from even leaving home while we await a steady stream of vehicles using the estate as the turning space.

“The council knew this would happen, as they put it in the consultation, which we objected to but made zero contingency for that or the public now being able to just walk onto the track while live trains are coming.”

Newquay Tretherras Cornwall councillor Kevin Towill has visited Crossing Mews to see the issue for himself. He said the highways department will be addressing the issue.

Cllr Towill said: “I have meet with a highways manager and they are well aware of the problems and are addressing the issue. “In fairness, the authority should not have been caught out by this because it has had plenty of time to plan for the closure.

“However, we are where we are and I have had assurance that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible.”