A MUCH-mooted £8m bridge for Truro must go ahead despite safety fears. That was the view of many Cornwall councillors – including Truro members – at a full Cornwall Council meeting this week. They said safety and technical concerns can all be worked out in separate delivery stages of the Lighterage Quay Bridge project.

Councillors were asked on Tuesday (April 21) to approve an application to transport secretary Heidi Alexander for a Transport and Works Act (TWA) order for the pedestrian and cycle bridge. This is necessary because the proposed bridge connecting the Newham Trail nature haven – popular with walkers, runners and cyclists – with Boscawen Park would impact navigation rights on the river and would be unlawful without the TWA order.

However, the Newham Business Improvement District (BID), whose role is to promote Newham industrial estate as a business location and to support the 180 businesses based there, questioned whether councillors had all the necessary facts to make an informed decision. While not opposed to the bridge in principle, the BID is concerned councillors are being asked to start a complex two-year process with long-term legal, financial, safety and economic consequences without the full picture.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Loic Rich (Truro Tregolls, Independent) said: “This is a hugely important project for Truro – it’s part of a journey to regenerate the port. It will be brilliant for people in Truro who are constantly asking me when this bridge is going to happen.

“It will also be a very good thing for Newham. It will link two communities and it will also tie in with a lot of other projects that Truro City Council is doing to upgrade the park and provide a new sports facility as well.

“I can’t really overstate how important it is for the people and businesses of Truro.”

Cllr Steven Webb (Truro Moresk & Trehaverne, Liberal Democrat) added: “The Newham Trail is one of the few places you can use in Truro without getting in a car and driving somewhere.

“I think the bridge really matters. It really does connect the community and I’ve yet to come across anybody who is not in favour of the bridge.

“There are concerns about safety, but I don’t think there’s anything we can’t work out. We should get on and move this forward.”

Cllr Tim Dwelly, Independent cabinet member for economic regeneration and investment, pointed out that it was a £8m Town Deal project and if it didn’t go ahead that money, granted by the Government, would be lost. “It’s very important we back it.” He added the bridge was due to come in on budget.

“I think the opposition to it on the industrial estate has been based on a notion that the roads, which are public roads, should only be dominated by their lorries. I’m afraid roads are for everybody. We have to make sure this is done safely, yes, but it will help Truro.”

Council chair Cllr Rob Nolan (Truro Boscawen & Redannick, Liberal Democrat) added: “People in Highertown have very little open space. This gives them an opportunity to go to Boscawen Park using an off-road route all the way through.

“There are concerns about access at the end, but I am confident that they will be dealt with as part of the planning process.”

Cllr Jack Yelland (St Austell Central & Gover, Reform UK) asked if the concerns raised by Newham BID had been fully addressed, while Cllr Rowland O’Connor (St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn, Cornish Independent Non-aligned Group) asked what the exit strategy would be for the council if costs spiralled.

Cllr Dan Rogerson, Lib Dem cabinet member for transport, said he has had meetings with Newham BID and asked them if they were opposed to the bridge “and the answer was no”.

He added: “There are specific concerns around some of the junctions and connections towards the bridge. Those are issues we will deal with through the other process. There is always an element of risk and we have to look at that, but the delivery of this is anticipated.”

The council voted by 51 votes for, 12 against and 10 abstentions to support the TWA order.