Truro City Council has “grave concerns” about the safety of walkers and cyclists using a much-heralded new bridge which has been promised for the city as part of the £23.6 million Town Deal project to revitalise Truro.

A planning application has been submitted to Cornwall Council for the construction of a lifting bridge for cycle and pedestrian access from Lighterage Quay in Newham to Boscawen Park at Malpas along with public realm works including demolition of an existing harbours shed and parking for up to 15 cars.

However, the city council’s planning committee has agreed to recommend refusal of the proposal until satisfactory plans are made detailing safe access for users of the bridge, which would link Newham and Malpas as part of the Truro Loops scheme to provide green transport links throughout the city.

An agent for the bridge plan spoke in favour of the scheme, assuring members that it had been designed to current standards of legislation with regard to biodiversity, safety and travel routes. However, the managing director of a nearby business raised concerns about safety on a road which is frequently used by heavy goods vehicles visiting industrial businesses in Newham.

Devon & Cornwall Police have also raised concerns about the proposal. The police’s architectural liaison officer Martin Mumford has written to Cornwall Council stating: “The main issue for me is how safe people will be and feel when eventually using this route especially when dark. This area is obviously primarily an industrial/commercial area so pedestrian/cycle movements should not conflict with these existing uses.

“The routes back towards Truro either along the road itself or the Higher Newham trail are certainly not the best in terms of passive surveillance and lighting. On the Boscawen Park side again I do not believe there is really any existing lighting until you get to the Malpas Road. Is this likely to be improved?”

The Port of Truro User Group has also expressed its concerns over safety arrangements for the bridge.

Truro City Council’s planning committee asked the town clerk to write to Cornwall Council expressing “grave concerns” about the access and safety of the area serving the lifting bridge.

In June 2021 Truro was awarded £23.6m of the Government’s Town Deals funding. Truro will see a number of developments to improve the city and its economy, including plans for a Truro community hub, green transport links, The Hive at Pydar, new life for buildings in the city centre and a Boscawen Park sports and recreation hub.

The proposed new ‘bascule’-type lifting bridge would allow the use of ferries, pleasure boats and commercial operations up the river including the possibility of a pop-up restaurant/café.

Concerns were raised earlier this year that the bridge may be dropped from the Town Deal plans due to the impact of inflation, meaning the true value of the £23.6 million award has reduced by a third. However, a second bridge at Town Quay in the city was removed from the plans instead.