Frustrated residents will gather on a road that has been closed for almost nine months to demand action next week. The protest will take place on Tuesday, September 1, on the road near Little Polgooth, close to St Austell. The local councillor says locals have had enough of "endless gridlock". The road was closed after Storm Goretti in January, when an embankment collapsed and a tree fell onto a lane.
Cornwall Council says the damage has led to a complex repair job.
Councillor Julie Cunningham, the Reform UK councillor for St Mewan and Grampound, said: "The road was closed in January when a tree fell onto a lane. It is still closed and although there are plans to re-design and rebuild the small lane it still hasn't been done, and we are nearly nine months on." She added: "Residents have been trying to get answers through myself and the highways department – this has caused so much upheaval for the residents of Little Polgooth and the surrounding areas."
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She continued: "Due to endless gridlock, residents must navigate frustratingly long workarounds instead of taking a direct, properly maintained road. They have had enough, which most would understand, especially when the work still hasn’t been started."
She added that at 10am on Tuesday, she will join local residents at the site "to demand action on what should be a straightforward road to re-design and repair so everyone can finally get back to their normal lives".
A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "We understand this road closure is causing frustration for residents and disrupting local journeys. January's storm caused a major embankment collapse, not just a fallen tree. Reopening the road safely requires a complex repair, including piling works and the diversion of underground utility services. We have prioritised this site for repair this year and are progressing the final design. Recent investigations have helped us identify the location of underground services so we can move the scheme forward. We expect to complete the design in the coming weeks and will then meet with the local community to discuss the project in more detail. Our focus is on delivering a safe, long-term solution, and we thank residents for their patience while we complete the necessary planning and preparation work."
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Residents Demand Action Following Months of Gridlock