The Department for Transport has confirmed funding of over £78 million for a new road, with green credentials, to link St Austell to the A30.
The 3.9-mile single carriageway road, with new junctions to provide local access, will link the A391 at Carluddon with the A30 at Victoria, supporting employment, housing, and regeneration in the area. It will run from the Singlerose Roundabout south of Stenalees, bypassing to the west of Roche to link to the A30 via the Victoria junction.
Cornwall Council Leader Linda Taylor said: “This link will make a huge difference for residents and businesses who have wanted it for many years. We put forward a strong bid to government and I’m delighted that the Department for Transport has now confirmed the funding.”
“It will bring further opportunities to the St Austell area, including economic growth and improved access to Cornwall’s growing employment sites.”
“There will also be five-and-a-half miles of new paths and routes for walking, cycling and horse riding, as well as a ‘green corridor’ of wildflowers, heathland, trees, and shrubs to support wildlife habitats, insects, and pollinators as we work to support active travel and biodiversity as part of this vital project.”
The National Wildflower Centre at Eden will create the planting scheme with wildflower species chosen to reflect the local flora of Cornwall.
Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, Philip Desmonde said: “Preparatory work for the new road has already been undertaken in anticipation of the DfT announcement. With this confirmation of funding, land acquisitions for the new road can now be completed and the construction work can begin in earnest to provide this vital link”
Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double, said: “This is fantastic news for St Austell and the surrounding areas, and for the local people and businesses who have been asking for this road to be built for many, many years.”
“The construction of a new A30 link road has always been my top priority since I first stood for election in 2015 and I am delighted it has now secured the final go ahead from government. This funding represents the biggest single investment by any government in mid-Cornwall.”
“This is another big step forward to seeing it happen. Well done to everyone at Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, who has worked over the years to make this happen.”
“This road will not only provide a vital and much needed direct link from the A30 to St Austell but also provides an alternative route for traffic that currently goes through the villages of Bugle and Roche.”
“I am keen to see work start on site on this vital part of our infrastructure for Mid-Cornwall as soon as possible.”
Peter Guest, Cornwall Councillor for Roche and Bugle, said: “‘This is great news. The residents of Roche, Bugle and surrounding villages have waited a long time for this. Once completed, it will make a huge difference by reducing the volume of traffic passing through the Division. I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this vital project to fruition.”
Matthew Luke, Cornwall Councillor for Penwithick and Boscoppa, said: “This is good news. It's hard to over emphasise its economic importance for the future of St Austell."
Councillor Andrea Davis, Chairman of Peninsula Transport said: “The Department for Transport’s financial backing for the St Austell to A30 Link Road scheme in Cornwall is excellent news. It is fantastic that these works can now go ahead, providing much-needed connectivity between St Austell, Newquay, other Cornish towns and the rest of the UK. It is these types of improvements that are key to levelling up the economic performance of the South West. This investment will bring far reaching benefits into the region by unlocking sustainable growth and supporting plans for future homes and jobs.”
Cornwall Council is contributing £6.4 million towards the £84 million project
The appointed contractor is Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd.
It’s anticipated that the new road will be complete in spring 2025.
Story posted 07 June 2022
