Emergency services in Liskeard face a six-mile diversion to reach the southern part of the town during resurfacing work scheduled for the main street – unless residents help them keep alternative routes clear. In a bid to overcome the danger to life posed by any delays caused by the official diversion (by way of the A38 and the new roundabout at Dobwalls), senior officers from the police, fire brigade and ambulance service in the town this week made an urgent appeal to residents to ensure their in-town diversion route is kept clear of parked cars.
Essential
Station officer Robert Collins from Liskeard fire station said alternative emergency access routes had been identified within the town but stressed that in order to minimise any delay in responding to 'shouts', residents' co-operation was essential. The resurfacing works are due to begin on Barras Street on Wednesday, April 23, and will involve a night-time road closure along the length of the road between 6.30pm and 6am Monday to Thursday. Cornwall County Council says the work has been programmed to minimise disruption during the day to road users, businesses and visitors to Liskeard town centre. While the road is closed the county council is diverting traffic seeking to cross the town by way of the A38 to the new roundabout at Dobwalls, returning to take either the Moorswater exit or the Island shop exit depending on which end of Barras Street is required. But the suggested route has left the emergency services with potentially life-threatening problems because of the delays it will cause in the event of having to respond to incidents on the opposite side of town from their bases off Greenbank Road. Insp John Turner of Liskeard police said he and his colleagues were keen to ensure that local residents were aware of the possible delays which could be caused by parked cars as emergency vehicles seek to negotiate the narrow roads in the town which have been identified as routes to overcome the problem. Of particular concern are Pound Street, Lower Lux Street and the Market Street area. 'Police will place No Waiting cones which will restrict parking in order to facilitate large emergency service vehicles being able to respond quickly to incidents in South Liskeard and the town area,' he said. 'Where vehicles are left causing an obstruction there is a strong chance they will be seized and the person responsible dealt with for obstruction,' said Insp Turner.