Highways
What highways works are proposed?
Highways works are proposed for Pydar Street and St Clement Street to help create a better sense of place for pedestrians and to ultimately reduce the speed of the road to avoid the existing and ongoing conflict between pedestrians and motor vehicles whilst accessing the city centre. The specific detailing of the proposed highway design will be provided as part of the first reserved matters application, should permission be granted. Such design would need to demonstrate that the materials and design would reduce vehicle speeds. But the core design principle is to create a sustainable walkable neighbourhood that minimises car use and promotes walking and cycling.
Is there capacity at the A30 junction to serve this development?
Extensive junction capacity modelling has been completed on the junctions near to the site. This is based on first principles as previously agreed under a PPA prior to the submission of the application. The forecasted trip generation has been linked to the level of parking supply proposed for the site. This has been compared to the existing uses of the site, if they were to be brought back into use, i.e., Carrick House, Circuit House, 57 Pydar House and St Clements House. Truro Bowl and the retail units. This results in a reduction in traffic generated from the site of 124 two-way vehicle trips in the AM peak (0800-0900), and 51 fewer two-way vehicle trips in the PM peak (1700-1800).
The junctions in the vicinity of the site have been capacity modelled, comparing the existing permitted use traffic generation and the proposed development including the removal of the car parking and redistribution of 50% of the parking to other car parks, with the remaining 50% parking not entering Truro, thereby either utilising the two park and rides or accessing the city via public transport, cycling and walking. This is in line with the Truro Transport Strategy and the intentions of the Public Sector Travel Plan.
What’s the provision for transport, refuse collection, emergency services etc on site?
Vehicles across most of the site will be restricted to service, refuse and emergency access only. There will be dedicated bin stores, recycling, and waste collection points for all residents and businesses. Vehicular access at designated off peak times to public areas will ensure regular litter picking and emptying of refuse bins as well as routine street cleaning and repairs.
How will the shared pedestrian/vehicle crossing at the entrance into the Pydar development from Lilly’s Café crossing St. Clements Street and into the diagonal work without conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians?
The Project Team have had meetings with Aecom (Road Safety Audit assessor) and Cormac (Highways Design) and have agreed that the emerging design will identify this junction as ‘exit only’ from the development. Therefore, vehicles will not take a sharp turn into the development from the Union Street roundabout and thus will not ‘take pedestrians by surprise’ as they approach the blind corner. Vehicle access from the Pydar Street / St Clement Street junction into the development is limited to service, delivery and emergency vehicles only and the exit only will be restricted with a rising bollard, controlled by the estate concierge, who, through CCTV, will monitor the amount of pedestrians and restrict the vehicle movement accordingly.
As the development will be a managed site, service and delivery vehicles will be restricted to certain hours (for example before 8am) where pedestrian flows will be significantly lower. Whilst vehicles will be sharing part of the entrance point into the development, there is still an area of this entrance point where it will only be for pedestrian and cyclists. Vehicles will share space with pedestrians throughout the development which will have a low-speed environment. Pedestrian priority will be promoted by paved surfacing treatments in combination with street furniture. The area of pedestrian use will be clearly visible to drivers exiting and entering the site.
The management strategy and detailed design will be developed and approved during the Reserved Matters stage.
I have heard Pydar Street and Kenwyn Street (the B3284) will be closed permanently after this project meaning more traffic through Hendra . Is there any truth to this plan?
No, this project is restricted to the ‘red line’ boundary of the site, so other than traffic calming to reduce speeds as per the planning documents and travel plan, there are no other changes and certainly no road closures.
Daubuz Court
Will the existing service/ access road be extended across the new development?
No, the service/access road will not be extended across the new development. The existing vehicle bridge over the River Allen into Moresk car park would be converted into pedestrian and cycles only if we do go ahead with developing the Moresk/Oak Way Car Park after 3 years. This will be a change to the existing arrangement where vehicles can use this the bridge. We want to create a more accessible riverside walk and cycle way along the River Allen along what is currently Oak Way.
Why can’t existing vehicular access over the bridge at Oak Way remain in place, so that the Daubuz Court service road wouldn’t be needed to access the new development.
The existing vehicular access will remain in place as long as the Moresk/Oak Way Car Park remains open. If we do go ahead with developing the Moresk/Oak Way Car Park after 3 years, then traffic across this bridge will cease. There are no changes planned for the Daubuz Court Service Road.
The properties adjacent to the service road occasionally need scaffolding erected which narrows the entry into the access road. This makes it very difficult for refuse vehicles to obtain access. This will be even worse when construction begins. What are the plans to manage this?
We will ensure that all parties, including contractors, construction workers, drivers, and developers, will work together when scheduling any planned maintenance works. We will create a Forward Plan that will ensure service and delivery companies make alternative arrangements for a temporary period. If this were to happen, all residents would be notified in advance of any changes.
How will the shared pedestrian/vehicle crossing at the entrance into the Pydar development from Lilly’s Café crossing St. Clements Street and into the diagonal work without conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians?
The Project Team have had meetings with Aecom (Road Safety Audit assessor) and Cormac (Highways Design) and have agreed that the emerging design will identify this junction as ‘exit only’ from the development. Therefore, vehicles will not take a sharp turn into the development from the Union Street roundabout and thus will not ‘take pedestrians by surprise’ as they approach the blind corner. Vehicle access from the Pydar Street / St Clement Street junction into the development is limited to service, delivery and emergency vehicles only and the exit only will be restricted with a rising bollard, controlled by the estate concierge, who, through CCTV, will monitor the amount of pedestrians and restrict the vehicle movement accordingly.
As the development will be a managed site, service and delivery vehicles will be restricted to certain hours (for example before 8am) where pedestrian flows will be significantly lower. Whilst vehicles will be sharing part of the entrance point into the development, there is still an area of this entrance point where it will only be for pedestrian and cyclists. Vehicles will share space with pedestrians throughout the development which will have a low-speed environment. Pedestrian priority will be promoted by paved surfacing treatments in combination with street furniture. The area of pedestrian use will be clearly visible to drivers exiting and entering the site.
The management strategy and detailed design will be developed and approved during the Reserved Matters stage.
The proposal to gain access to the Oak Way element of the scheme remains by utilising the narrow access road to the small car park which is part of Daubuz Court, and which runs along the back of the main block of flats. Why is this necessary when it will affect the amenity, safety and environment of those residents of Daubuz Court whose properties abut this lane? How will those residents of Daubuz Court owning vehicles be able to find parking, as they can now?
The existing vehicular access will remain in place and there are no changes planned for the Service/Access Road. Therefore, residents of Daubuz Court can continue to park their vehicles like they do currently.