CLAY AREA STRATEGY: "TRANSPORT IS KEY TO UNLOCKING PROSPERITY"

12.10.00pm GMT Thu 17th Jan 2008

Stephen Gilbert, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for St Austell & Newquay, which includes the clay villages, told a meeting last night that "ensuring good transport links and proper infrastructure is the key to unlocking future prosperity in the clay area."

Mr Gilbert was speaking at the Clay Area Consultative meeting in Trewoon, organised by Restormel Borough Council, to discuss the formation of a new strategy for the clay area that will guide development in the future.

Stephen said: "This is one of the most important pieces of work going on across Cornwall. On almost every key indicator, like income and educational attainment, the clay is area lags behind other parts of Cornwall and is below the national average. When it is finished the strategy needs to help attract more and better paid jobs, tackle the skills shortage, as well as providing affordable homes for local people. We have to get this right."

Mr Gilbert pressed Council officers at the meeting to ensure that transport links and infrastructure were looked at while the strategy was being completed.

He said: "The Regional Spatial Strategy proposes some very scary numbers for house building in Restormel and if we have to deliver them it is vital that transport and infrastructure, like schools and dentists, are put front and centre of any plan for development.

"At the moment we have gridlock on our roads in the summer - we need to make sure that we don't have gridlock all year round."

Mr Gilbert suggested that improving the Par to Newquay branch line by reinstating the rail link from Burngullow to St Dennis would create a new rail loop in the clay area and he asked Council officers to look at the possibility.

Stephen said: "The Par to Newquay branch line has real potential for significant improvement. With some imagination and investment we could see a loop that includes St Columb Road, St Dennis, Roche and Bugle. It would help take the pressure off local roads, link the clay villages to St Austell and Newquay and benefit the whole area."