New park and ride scheme taken forward for Truro

PLANS to create a new park and ride service for Truro along with a Waitrose store, Cornwall food hall and new homes took a step forward after Cornwall Council's cabinet agreed to proceed with the project.

The Eastern District Centre is a joint project between the council and the Duchy of Cornwall which will also provide a household waste recycling centre for Truro.

It will provide a 1,379 space park and ride scheme and 97 homes, of which 35% will be affordable.

It has been a controversial project with critics saying that it is in the wrong location and should not be on a greenfield site.

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However the Cabinet agreed to go ahead with the plans to create the new park and ride and household waste centre elements of the plan should funding applications be successful.

In a strange twist one of the main critics of the scheme – Truro councillor Bert Biscoe – is now one of the Cabinet members responsible for the project.

He said that he was still not happy with the project but conceded that a decision had been made by the council and progress was required. He abstained from the vote.

Truro councillor Doris Ansari said it was a "sad day" for Truro.

She said: "I am definitely not a fan of this – certainly not where it is."

She added: "I am sad that we are going to lose one of the most beautiful valleys at the entrance to our city.

"It is a sad day for Truro because there was a possibility of Waitrose moving into the city centre. They decided they preferred a green field site in spite of all their protestations about being a sustainable and green company.

"That valley is one of the most beautiful parts of the entrance to our city and a greenfield site in an area of outstanding natural beauty that will be ruined by another supermarket that will take business away from the city centre."

Councillor Bob Egerton spoke in favour of the scheme saying: "Unlike the portfolio holder I have always been a fan of this scheme so I am pleased that it has got to this stage.

"A lot of residents in my division will be using all the elements of this project."