Concerns A30 closure will affect show traffic

There are worries the closure of the A30 in Cornwall could cause problems for people attending the Royal Cornwall Show.

Cornwall's main trunk road is closing at 21:00 BST on Friday for roadworks and will stay shut until Monday.

One farmer said she was concerned about long delays and the secretary of the show said he was "very disappointed at the closure".

Highways bosses said they would be "reviewing the planned closures... and will provide an update early" this week.

The £330m project to dual the A30 between Chiverton Cross and Carland Cross was due to be completed in March.

Bad weather and construction challenges have pushed back the completion date to "before the school summer holidays".

Bridgette Clamp, from Nancledra near Penzance, who will be showing her pedigree Red Ruby Devon cattle at the show, said she faced long delays.

She said: "To close it and give us a new, longer diversion over that Royal Cornwall weekend is ludicrous.

"Now we're going to be in another diversion which is going to be held up with holiday traffic as well.

"For animal welfare this is just one straw too many for the camel's back.

"There are going to be pinch points, there will be trailers of all different widths and sizes, and not just cattle, there will be sheep and horses, there are a lot of equine competitions at the Royal Cornwall Show and Saturday is going to be a nightmare."

The secretary of the Royal Cornwall Show, Chris Riddle, said: “Obviously we’re very disappointed at the closure – we are making representations to National Highways and hopeful that they will change the decision.

“However, the bulk of the traffic will be heading east and although it might take some of the farmers down west a little longer, I don’t thing it will impact the show too much.”

In a statement, National Highways said: "We are currently reviewing the planned closures next weekend, in particular the Saturday daytime closure, and will provide an update early next week.

"We are aware of concerns around the Royal Cornwall Show traffic and will do all we can, taking on board feedback to minimise disruption whilst pushing ahead with work to get the new A30 fully open."

The Royal Cornwall Show opens on Thursday and runs for three days.

In 2023, 118,201 people attended the event.

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