Calls for Faster Completion of Cornwall Link Road as Villages See Little Relief from Traffic

Councillor Steve Trevelyan said he felt drivers were trying to avoid a 30mph limit on the road

Local residents and councillors are urging Cornwall Council to accelerate completion of the new A391 link road, expressing frustration that it has yet to reduce traffic through nearby villages such as Bugle and Roche.

The partially opened road, which launched in May 2025, is intended to connect St Austell with the A30 and divert through-traffic away from local communities. However, a temporary 30mph speed restriction and ongoing construction work have meant many drivers continue to use older, more direct routes through the villages.

Steve Trevelyan, Reform councillor for Roche and Bugle, said there has been little improvement in traffic conditions in Bugle since the road opened. He criticised the lack of visible urgency to complete the project.

“There’s been no real change,” he said. “Drivers are avoiding the new road because of the 30mph limit and continuing to use the old route through the village. It feels like there’s no urgency to get this finished.”

Cornwall Council has said construction is expected to be completed in the next two to three months. The reduced speed limit was introduced as a safety measure to protect workers while remaining sections of the road are finished.

The council also defended its decision to partially open the route while works continued, arguing that fully closing the road would have meant extended diversions throughout the summer.

Garry Tregidga, co-chair of the Bugle and Stenalees Community Speedwatch group, echoed Trevelyan’s concerns and said traffic through Bugle has not improved—in fact, he believes it's worsening.

“People will always take the fastest route available, and with the restrictions still in place, the new road just isn’t being used as intended,” he said. “This 30mph zone could be here until Christmas. It feels like the people of Bugle are just being asked to endure it.”

Local resident John Callingham shared a similar view, saying traffic through Bugle remains heavy.

“Things aren’t noticeably better. Most locals still drive through Bugle because it’s quicker,” he said, also pointing to the speed limit on the new link as a key deterrent.

Cornwall Council has assured residents that the temporary speed restriction will be removed once construction is fully completed.

“While we understand drivers’ frustration, the alternative would have been to keep the new road entirely closed with long detours in place throughout the summer,” a council spokesperson said.