Democracy has worked, say Camborne planners
BBCThe people behind planned changes to Camborne town centre have said the proposals have been altered to reflect the concern of local businesses.
Originally, the £2m scheme for Trelowarren Street would have seen cars encouraged not to travel along the road when heading towards car parks there.
However, local traders said that would harm footfall and put off potential customers and as a result the idea was dropped.
A consultation on the rest of the scheme - to improve the area for pedestrians and cyclists - was due to end on Friday with work scheduled to start this summer.
'Stop-go town'
The changes to the town centre are one of nine projects in Camborne funded through the £23.7m awarded by the previous government as part of its Town Deal.
The scheme also involves enhancing Commercial Square around the water fountain and installing new CCTV and lighting to improve safety as well as more greenery and trees.
Ian Herbert runs a mobile phone shop on Trelowarren Street and was one of those concerned about the original scheme.
"It's very much a stop-go town," he said. "People drive down, find a space, jump out, do whatever they need to do, then drive off.
"It's really important we keep that flow. Most of our customers still use a car and they want to park as close to where they are going to shop as possible."
The scheme would see three additional pedestrian crossings installed on Trelowarren Street to improve safety.
John Cosgrove, vice-chair of the Camborne Town Deal Board, said he hoped it would make the road slower for motorists.
"One of the effects of this, we believe, will be to encourage those who are not coming to shop to go round a different way and not come along Trelowarren Street," he explained.
He conceded changes to divert more traffic away from the town centre had been dropped because of traders' concerns.
"They wanted the on-street parking and to make sure cars could still come in to the town," he said.
"Maybe we had worked too hard to make this a place where pedestrians would be safe and that would have affected access if we'd gone ahead with those proposals.
"People wanted something slightly different. Democracy has worked," he added.
"It will make Camborne better."
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