A38 Safety Improvements.
Menheniot Parish Council has with others lobbied for the past five decades for improvements to be made to the A38 in particular where it passes through the Parish.
Too many collisions, resulting in fatalities and serious injury have occurred at the junctions on our stretch of road whilst funding for a permanent reconstruction of them becomes increasingly unlikely.
Between the Liskeard and Trerulefoot junctions, the number of people killed or seriously injured in collisions is 34% higher than the regional average, mostly as a result of vehicles turning right.
National Highways have prepared a Safety Improvements Scheme for the A38 between Liskeard and Trerulefoot.
The scheme proposes to restrict right turns at junctions and prevent U turns.
National Highways state the impact of the additional vehicles being diverted will be minimal on journey times, though it is recognised that some lanes will need work to improve or create passing places.
From initial thinking Councillors are concerned that the impact and cost will be significant, both on residents and businesses because.
• Journey times increased for all.
• Some parts of the Parish will become separated and more isolated.
• Narrow lanes frequented by commercial traffic and more cars, will increase the risk of collisions.
• Residents will be affected by increased noise and pollution.
• Businesses will be incurring additional transport costs and staff will be impacted.
The improvements proposed may limit the opportunity for right turns, but not all of them, so the principal risk is being reduced but not eliminated which was the objective of the lobbying these past years.
It is residents and business owners’ views that are important and National Highways are inviting all to a public information event on:
5 October at Liskeard Town Hall 1pm - 6:30pm.
Once the community have had the opportunity to see the detail and form their opinions, there will be a public meeting in the parish to share views which will inform the Parish Council in formally feeding back views to National Highways.
Cllr Adrian Cole
Chair Menheniot Parish Council.
22nd September 2026