A MEMBER of Cornwall Council’s new cabinet has raised concerns about a new speed hump, which drivers have labelled a “ski jump”, on a busy road in Truro.

The traffic calming measure on Malpas Road is part of a government-funded Truro Town Deal scheme to improve safety and provide better facilities along the riverside, but many residents are unhappy.

A motorist took to social media to complain about the new road ‘furniture’, with a similar hump currently in construction further along the road.

“Is anyone else absolutely ticked off with what they are doing to Malpas Road as regards the ridiculous road hump (ski jump) that has been installed recently?” they asked. “Sometimes I have to go over it six times a day which cannot be good for the suspension on my car.

“Considering they are going to put another one in this week, I think users of Malpas Road need to speak up.”

Local councillor Loic Rich, recently named as cabinet member for environment and climate change, told us he has written to the engineer in charge of the project to see if the humps can be reduced.

“They should be there to slow people down, but not be over the top. This one sounds a bit extreme,” said Cllr Rich, who told us he was going to test it out in his car after receiving several emails from concerned ward members.

“Speed humps should be used to make people adhere to the speed limit, in this case 20mph, so if this means people are having to slow down to 3mph it could actually cause accidents. There’s a possibility a car could go into the back of another car which has had to dramatically slow down to cross the hump.”

Others were less critical. “It only takes a couple of seconds to slow and drive over even the harshest of speed bumps,” wrote one person. “Unfortunately, idiots who have no regard for speed limits have caused this sort thing to be implemented. If everyone could just drive with care and consideration, they wouldn’t be needed.”

Such road improvements are carried out by Cornwall Council’s offshoot company, Corserv. A spokesperson said: “The table-top road crossing has been built to the council’s highway standard and is the same height as other similar features across the county. The kerbs at the crossing have been lowered so that they are at the same level.

“No objections were received during the public consultation which took place over five weeks between December 2024 and January 2025. As with all changes to the highway, letters were sent to homes in the local area before the work took place.”

Work on the first phase of the Malpas scheme began earlier this year with the creation of a landscaped green space area in place of the Pendeen Road roundabout, which has been transformed into a ‘T’ junction, with new planting, paving and seating.

Further phases will improve existing footway sections and junctions, install new crossing points and complete resurfacing works. Work is due to be completed this year.