Works to enhance the appearance of Camborne town centre and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists have begun.
Part of the wider Camborne Town Deal Transport Project, the Renew scheme will also help to support the local economy by encouraging people to spend more time in the town.
The final designs for the scheme, which will be constructed by Cormac, have been developed following engagement with the local community. This included a drop in event held in September to enable local residents and businesses to find out more about the plans and give their views on the proposals.
The scheme focuses on improving the environmental aspect of the town centre by:
- Adding new seating and plant greenery
- Improving pedestrian crossings throughout Trelowarren Street
- A new zebra crossing at Fore Street
- Extending on-street free parking at the top of Trelowarren Street from 30 minutes to an hour
- Repairing paving defects in Commercial Square
- Installing enhanced lighting and CCTV
- Providing secure cycle parking
While the works are predominantly focused on Trelowarren Street and Commercial Square, there are also proposals to enhance the character of adjoining streets to complement the overall project.
Val Dalley, Chair of the Camborne Town Deal Board, said: “I am pleased to see work begin on implementing this vital scheme. The Camborne Renew project is going to make a big difference to our town centre.
Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport, said “Making town centres visually appealing, accessible and places everyone enjoys spending time in are all key steps to enhancing their vitality and I look forward to seeing the completed scheme in place “.
The project team recognise that construction will impact those living or operating businesses in the area and will be phasing the works to minimise disruption whilst still delivering a high-quality scheme in an acceptable time frame.
This will include temporarily pausing the works at the end of November to enable the town’s festive events, including the lantern parade and the switch on of the Christmas lights, to take place without interruption.
As a result there will be no road closures before the New Year apart from in New Connexion Street, which, due to its width, requires a full road closure throughout its improvements.
In January work will begin at Commercial St and around the town square. This will require several short-term road closures with diversion routes clearly marked with advanced signage. Pedestrian access with be maintained during the works, with access for deliveries provided as close to individual businesses as possible.
As vehicle access will be periodically restricted from certain areas of the town, one hour of free parking will be provided at Rosewarne car park from the beginning of January to the scheduled end of the project in May to support businesses and the local community.
Works will continue through into the spring, with plans being developed to ensure that the road is clear and open for Trevithick Day. Following Trevithick Day, the remaining works (primarily surfacing and laying of the new imprint paving) are due to be completed by the end of May.
“While we understand the importance of keeping the traffic flowing as well as possible at all times during the construction, we also need to ensure the safety of the teams working on site” said a Cormac spokesperson.
“We recognise that the works will inevitably cause some temporary disruption to motorists, local residents and businesses and will be monitoring the situation closely to keep disruption to a minimum.”
Anyone with queries or concerns about the works is asked to call 0300 1234 222 or email Cormac at [email protected].
The Camborne Renew and Camborne LifeCycle schemes are two of 10 Town Deal funded projects which are aimed at regenerating the heart of Camborne and transforming the town into a visually appealing, accessible place to live, work, shop and visit.
Renew has been awarded £2.9 million from the government’s Town Deal programme and £800k match funding from Cornwall Council. Lifecycle has been awarded £1.7 million from the government’s Town Deal programme and £326k match funding from Cornwall Council.
Work on the Lifecycle scheme is due to be completed by the middle of November, providing 3.7km of enhanced walking and cycling routes with the aim of connecting key sites and encouraging pedestrians and cycle usage, cutting down on car journeys and improving air quality in and around the town centre.
