Campaigners are celebrating ‘positive news’ after it was revealed average speed cameras are to be introduced sooner than expected on the A38 in South East Cornwall.

James Millidge, chairman of the Safe38 campaign group, said: “The Department for Transport has delayed the A38 Carkeel to Trerulefoot safety package by at least seven years until after 2030, a decision, we fear, that will cost many lives and serious injuries and leaves South East Cornwall woefully far from having a safe strategic road corridor.  

“The safety package which was being considered was only ever a small selection of safety measures. 

“It’s hard to comprehend the logic in delaying what is essentially a cheap list of measures designed to reduce death and serious injury which would have had a positive economic impact. 

“Safe38 has been campaigning relentlessly to see average speed cameras installed far sooner – just one element of the safety package – and it appears at last our call, with the support from many Cornwall Councillors, has been heard.

“We have had sight of a letter from Roads Minister Richard Holden to our MP Sheryll Murray confirming that average speed cameras will indeed be rolled out on this section sooner than 2030. 

“We eagerly await details from our MP and National Highways but this news from the Department of Transport on the back of lobbying by our MP and local Cornwall Councillors would be a major milestone in getting some meaningful action to improve the road. 

“Alongside this positive news, the new South East Cornwall Community Area Partnership (a community of local councils and Cornwall Councillors) has confirmed that improvement to the A38 is one of three top priorities for the area. 

“We are especially thankful to Councillors Armand Toms, Colin Martin, Jane Pascoe and Kate Ewert for their relentless pursuit of investment and prioritisation for safety on the A38.”