Bodmin Transport Strategy Development

Appendix G – Bodmin Strategy

May 2017 Bodmin’s Transport Strategy sits within the context of Cornwall Council’s overarching transport strategy, Connecting Cornwall – as set out in more detail in section 2.17.

Currently high volumes of traffic and congestion in the centre of Bodmin have resulted in localised congestion and an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) being declared, which can be a barrier to further growth, unless appropriately addressed. There is a strong desire to see housing and economic growth, including the regeneration of the town centre. The proposed transport strategy aims to address current constraints within the town centre through the delivery of strategic junction enhancements to create capacity, while underpinning the sustainable aims set out in the LTP3, through the delivery of a much improved walking and cycling network, as well as an improved public transport offering.

To support the enhancement of the town centre, plans are in place to deliver an innovative low speed environment along part of Dennison Road, through Church Square and as far as Shire House on Turf Street. The scheme will enable growth, whilst managing congestion and giving greater emphasis to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, which in turn will help to manage air quality.

Strategic upgrades are also proposed at Launceston Road/ Priory Road junction, Fiveways, Callywith Gate and Respryn to mitigate against the impacts of growth, improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and open up land for development, including two urban extensions located on the north-east and south-east of the town.

Furthermore, Bodmin has identified an opportunity to promote itself as a cycle town, building on the back of the high quality cycle offerings on the periphery of the town, namely Lanhydrock, the Camel Trail and Cardinham cycle hub. The delivery of a comprehensive town wide cycle network will support the economic regeneration of the town centre as it is estimated that a further 74,000 cyclists a year would pass through the town; but equally important the cycle network will underpin the transport strategy which sets out to see the use of sustainable transport increase by 25% for walking and cycling and 65% for public transport1.

An 8.1km strategic cycle link connecting The Camel Trail with the Lanhydrock Cycle Trail, via the heart of Bodmin, has been identified and is due for delivery in 2017. The package also includes the delivery of a new roundabout junction at Priory Road / Launceston Road and the low speed environment scheme.

It is anticipated that new developments will provide the opportunity to achieve a greater modal switch, as developers are expected to deliver robust travel plans.

1 The 25% and 65% increase targets relate to current usage Table Bd3: Bodmin Transport Strategy Measures Highway New link and Road Bridge at Respryn to open up the Improvements Halgavor Urban Extension New link connecting Boundary Road and Dunmere Road Strategic junction Church Square, Dennison Road and Turf Street (low improvements speed environment) Cooksland Junction Fiveways Launceston Road/ Priory Road roundabout Callywith Gate Bus Improvements The One Public Transport System for Cornwall (OPTSC) project will deliver a high quality, accessible and integrated public transport network for Cornwall by December 2018. Work is underway to identify improvements to bus services, infrastructure, information, ticketing and branding that will significantly improving the offering to both existing passengers and non-users to improve the appeal of public transport, driving up patronage on bus and rail, making the network more financially viable. The improvements to bus, rail and ferry integration will be implemented to tie in with the delivery of a new rail timetable which provides 2 trains per hour on the mainline in Cornwall in December 2018. Walking and Cycling Deliver an east west link between The Camel Trail and Improvements Lanhydrock Cycle Hub Town wide walking and cycling network, delivering links to employment sites and growth areas Rail Improvements Investigate opportunities to re-introduce a link between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin General Station

Table Bd3 above sets out the strategic transport proposals; it should be noted that individual developments might have other site specific transport requirements that it might have to deliver.

Figures Bd2 identifies the high level transport strategy measures that will be required both on and off site to enable the sites to come forward. However, it should be noted that due to the cumulative impact of development across the town, the whole strategy will need to be delivered to ensure future resilience of the town’s transport network.

For more information on the Bodmin Transportation Strategy please refer to the Bodmin Town Framework. Fig. Bd2