THE COST of planning and designing an abandoned bridge project for Truro has been revealed as £1.171 million, via a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request made to Cornwall Council.

That’s five per cent of the total Town Deal funding of £23.6 million from the UK government, for a project to transform Truro into a “connected river city”.

The scrapped lifting bridge was designed to link Boscawen Park to Lighterage Quay in Newham as part of a regeneration scheme. The original proposal of a bascule-type bridge, dubbed ‘iconic’ by the board, was seen as a vital part of creating a connecting loop throughout the city for pedestrians and cyclists.

Truro Town Deal Board revealed last month that the lifting bridge plans had been scrapped in favour of a swing bridge at a reduced cost. The new project has been awarded up to £812,000 in Cornwall Council match-funding.

As the accountable body for the project, Cornwall Council was asked for the total spend since January 2020 on consultants, design, planning and cost estimates for the abandoned plans. The total spend up to the end of the 2024/25 financial year was £1.171m.

The council was also asked for the ongoing revenue costs for maintenance and operation of the currently proposed swing bridge and which budget will fund those costs. This is are “currently under review by the project team while the design is being updated”.

The FOI request also revealed that Cornwall Council will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of any approved bridge. The local authority confirmed that tolls to contribute to the ongoing revenue costs “have not currently been proposed under the existing proposal”.

The £23.6 million Town Deal funding is being used to enhance the city’s leisure and cultural offerings, boost business, improve the waterfront and transport, and create green spaces.