The Grampound Times
Summer 2006 (Edition 42 - Carnival Edition)
Our community in Cornwall
The Continuing Story of a village and its fight for justice!!!!
Did you know that having been designated by the Cornwall County Council their No. 1 priority place for a road bypass for some considerable time, Grampound having lost that status has now become itself a bypass for the village of Tregony? It’s true! - as a parting gesture to his faithful electors here, JOHN LOBB aided and persuaded no doubt by Cllr. Des. Menear, arranged for all Roseland traffic including heavy lorries, approaching from the east, instead of turning off the A.390 at Hewaswater as it has done in all of our living memories, to instead continue on through Grampound to finally leave the A.390 midway along the Probus bypass - you know the area I mean - the one where so many accidents have already taken place! Cllr. John Lobb, your elected man and previous Leader of the County Council had been made fully aware over preceding years, both verbally and in writing, when the proposal to reroute had been posed by the County Highways Department, that Grampound could not possibly agree to accept more traffic. How could we with an existing traffic problem very much greater than our neighbouring village. Following consultation the suggestion was rejected by Grampound through its Parish Council on at least two previous occasions, so what was the way forward now to achieve their evil way - their answer was straightforward - do it - say nothing and hope no one notices! The sign posts at Hewaswater were changed just in time for Cllr. Lobb to vacate his post! – and with no consultation.
Those of you who keep in touch via our Parish Council Minutes, Press Notices etc., will realise by now that here in Grampound our safety seems not to be of much concern at County Hall. The diversion of the Roseland traffic through Grampound is but the last in a considerable number of straws to me. Most people charged with preparing a case in support of a bypass, a scheme that the elected members of the County Council themselves decreed to be their No. 1 priority, would have been distraught if the result of their work had been declared negative by the Government of the S.W. team. Not so maybe for the Officer at County Hall who prepared it as soon after the case had been rejected - he picked up a promotion!
The Planning Application that threatened to bring 20 tonne trucks through our village, on occasions to the extent of one every 7 minutes to service extension of the old Tredinnick Quarry, turned not a hair on the County Council head. Rejected by Carrick District Council, Restormel Borough Council, Probus Parish Council and Grampound with Creed Parish Council - no problem County said!
How many years have we requested the siting of traffic speed cameras here? I’ve lost count. Success seemed imminent many years ago when Peter Stethridge as County Surveyor had electrical installations fitted at either end of the village to facilitate cameras (incidentally these years later they are still there!). Mr. Stethridge later became the County Council’s Chief Executive and retired from that office some time ago - but Highways Department keep saying “No!”
O.K. then - no bypass, no speed cameras, so how about installing a pedestrian crossing that would aid particularly children and us older folk. Well, guess what, there is a criteria that must be met - takes no account of safety, common sense or circumstances - but requires a population very much greater than our community to satisfy or better still a few road casualties. Sorry!
Are you pleased with the 20mph restriction that operates for traffic around the school area for around 3 hours each school day? The Department of Transport says that for 20mph zones to be effective they need to extend for at least 500 metres - but Cornwall County Council know better!
I thought that writing this piece would at least make me feel better, but sadly it does not, instead it has further stirred up my anguish for Grampound. Elsewhere in this magazine you will see that MATTHEW TAYLOR your MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT wants to help you with any problems you have. Why not drop him a line? And while you are about it don’t forget Cllr. HUNKIN who is your current elected Liberal Democrat representative on the Cornwall County Council.
OGER PAYNTER
© 2006 Grampound with Creed Parish Council