CONCERNS have been voiced in the Looe Valley over the impacts of a proposed new multi-use trail – and Cornwall Council has been criticised for a “haphazard” approach to the project so far.

While a ‘Let’s Talk’ website has been launched for the public to read about the plans and give their views, this does not as yet contain the proposed routes. Several landowners have described how they were not approached about use of their land ahead of a map being published online.

An initial proposal to create part of the trail along the bottom of the valley at Coombe, just below Lamellion in Liskeard, has been dropped, said farmer Philip Stevens, who said that this route, which would have gone through his land, had been ill-thought- through as it crossed a flood plain.

“They didn’t approach me, I heard about it from my neighbour. It was haphazard,” he said.

It is now proposed that this section of the route use existing lanes, which in itself may pose safety issues, said neighbour Ann Gray, who said that there had been no real consultation with owners, and described the council’s handling of the project so far as “inept”.

At the other end of the valley, there is unease about the stated ambition of the project to create a loop that will be fully accessible to people on horseback, in wheelchairs and on foot.

The route so far seen by local stakeholders follows the railway line from Sandplace to Terras Bridge, and could necessitate significant engineering works if it were to avoid the road.

From Terras Bridge the route rises steeply up into Trenant Woods – a site containing ancient woodland which is described by local people as virtually undisturbed – and would have to cross the river at some point in order to come back via Kilminorth Woods, another tract of ancient woodland, to Looe.

The proposed route would also border the Looe Voluntary Marine Conservation Area, and both construction work and increased public access could well have an impact on the estuarine and marine habitat, yet the Looe Marine Conservation Group said it had to request to be part of the discussions after having sighted information sent to others.

An East Looe Valley Stakeholders Group was formed by 11 households who wanted the opportunity to discuss the plans, and while not a recognised stakeholder, the group has sent its feedback to the Council.

“The group as a whole was supportive of the idea of a cycle trail linking Looe and Liskeard, but were against the proposed route,” said a spokesperson.

“Key themes that emerged from the vast majority of stakeholders were disturbance to nature, visual impact and user safety.”

Alternatives put forward by the group as warranting further investigation included converting the railway line for use as a trail; or routing the trail either via Morval, or via St Keyne and Duloe to Looe.

The group spokesperson said: “The stakeholder engagement has been really poor from Cornwall Council and this has resulted in many landowners seeing plans for the first time in the public domain with the route going through their land.

“Our engagement with the Council has been largely one sided, leaving us feeling like the Council simply aren’t interested in hearing views of those directly affected by the proposal.”