A £100,000 road improvement scheme in Looe has met with complaints.

Businesses with large vehicles say the revised junction being constructed above the Millpool car park isn't working properly.

There have been reports of lorries and trailers 'bottoming out' when using the new layout. The steepness of the road means some vehicles are hitting the ground as they turn.

The director of a coach company based in Wales, who has bought a hotel in Looe as part of a plan to provide holidays in the area, is among those who have raised concerns.

Mike Edwards, of Edwards Coach Holidays, who has been the new owner of the Portbyhan Hotel in West Looe since June, says access to the Millpool car park is important.

Each week he is bringing two 50-seater coaches carrying holidaymakers to Looe.

He said: 'At the moment, while the junction work is carried out, I am having to park the coaches at Hannafore – which some residents have complained about. It is unsatisfactory but I have no option.

'The layout of the new junction would make it difficult for my coaches to make some turns. They cost £300,000 each and I don't want them damaged.

Concerns

'I have had a meeting at the site and I have been told there will be an improvement involving dropping the level of the road down.'

As well as Mr Edwards, traders at the Millpool, including Paul Richardson, manager at Jewsons, and Kate Hudson, of Millpool Garage, have also met on site to discuss their concerns with Cornwall Council highway manager Rob Constance and contracts site manager Jim Driscoll.

Kate said: 'It's not going to work as it is.

'I think they have over-improved it and it is now more dangerous.'

In answer to the concerns raised, Mr Driscoll informed county councillor Edwina Hannaford that he had spoken to the design team and made it clear that the junction layout needs to be looked at urgently by the designer to ensure the final layout is satisfactory.

Cllr Hannaford said that she was very unhappy with the revised junction.

She said: 'I am advised that changes are being made to the design and that Cormac engineers are confident the problems will be resolved.'