Truro is to take on a new look from next week – and anyone visiting the city needs to know about it.
Boscawen Street will have new traffic arrangements, colourful planters and additional seating as on Monday, in a bid to see the city centre transformed into "an attractive and vibrant space for all to enjoy."
As of 12.01am on Monday morning there will be a 24-hour restriction on through traffic entering Boscawen Street as part of the Healthy Streets Truro experimental scheme, in an effort to to reduce traffic and pollution levels in the city centre and create a better environment for all.
Access is being retained for emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, cycles and blue badge holders, and for loading and unloading, but all other traffic is banned.
The aim is that the reduction in traffic will create more space for people to walk and cycle safely, while the use of colourful new planters, filled with wildlife friendly plants and shrubs provided by Cormac, together with new areas of seating, will encourage more people to visit and shop in the city centre.
The 12-month trial scheme in Boscawen Street is the first step towards a wider project to develop a new vision for Truro, to ensure that the city centre is accessible to all parts of the community.
Designed to help regenerate the city at the same time as increasing opportunities for walking, cycling and bus use – together with space for staging community events – the scheme is part of the wider ambition to promote sustainable transport and tackle climate change.
The scheme is being introduced using an 'Experimental Traffic Regulation Order' funded by Cornwall Council. This provides an opportunity to see if and how the scheme is working, before making a decision on whether the measure should be made permanent.
Information on the scheme is available on the Healthy Streets Truro section on the Let’s Talk Cornwall site letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/healthy-streets-truro People who are not online can pick up information about the scheme from the Visit Truro Visitor Information office in Boscawen Street and Truro Library.
A spokesperson for the project said: "We know that it may take a little time to get used to this change. The Healthy Streets team want to hear the views of all parts of the local community on how the scheme is working.
"A series of consultation days will be held in the city centre throughout the scheme to enable people to ask questions and give their views. Details of dates and times of the events will be confirmed as soon as possible."
People can make comments on the scheme and ask questions via the Let’s Talk Cornwall site, by sending a letter to Truro City Council, Union Place, Truro TR1 1EP or emailing healthystreets@truro.gov.uk
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