A38 safety work delayed till 2028

"People dying" on South East Cornwall section

A Cornwall councillor has called on work to improve safety on the A38 in south east Cornwall to take priority as people are dying on the stretch of road. Callington councillor Andrew Long asked for an update on proposed works on the road at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

The A38, which is the main road route through South East Cornwall to Plymouth, has been long held up as needing works to improve safety following a number of accidents. A campaign group has been set up to try and improve the road with concerns about safety.

National Highways has been considering a package of improvements on the road between Trerulefoot and Carkeel and on its website states that this is needed due to “an unacceptably high collision rate”. However, it has been reported that the new works will not take place until 2028.

Meybon Kernow councillor Andrew Long asked Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for transport, for an update on the works.

He said: “Could you give us an update on where we are with the A38? Given that you keep on talking about other projects going on around Cornwall and hundreds of millions of pounds being spent. So far it seems that the A38 has had about £4.78 spent on it.

“It is really important for the people of South East Cornwall that we get some answers about when we are going to have some serious work being done to deal with the health and safety of residents.

“Just last week there was another accident on the A38 just west of Saltash which led to many hours of delays for people trying to get in and out of Cornwall and it made the national news. It is an ongoing crisis.”

Cllr Donnithorne said that he had held a meeting with local MP Sheryll Murray and was due to have a meeting with the A38 campaign group. He added that there were conversations with National Highways about the planned works which were now scheduled for 2028 and would have to go through a process for approval.

He added: “I have made it clear and so has the local MP that it needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

Cllr Long responded saying: “I would reiterate that 2028 is five years away and we are getting people dying on the road. We really need action, while I fully understand the pressure you are under can I please urge that it is kept at the top of the list of priorities.

“We do not want to sit down and find that the A30 down at Hayle and Camborne takes priority when the A38 desperately, desperately needs work on it now.”

Cllr Donnithorne said that “completely agreed” and said that he would continue to provide updates for Cllr Long and other councillors in the area.