Protesters halt traffic on the A38
The campaign for a bypass for Dobwalls was given a higher profile last Saturday - after residents staged a protest and caused traffic jams tailing back seven miles.
And there will be more jams this week as protesters plan another demonstration on Saturday morning - and every Saturday during the summer.
The battle for a bypass for the village has now been going on for 47 years, and fed-up locals have decided enough is enough. They were stung into vociferous action after representatives travelled to see roads minister, Lord Whitty, earlier this year and were told that the bypass was likely to come later rather than sooner.
This was despite telling him of their fears of even more traffic hold-ups during eclipse week with the majority of traffic into Cornwall being directed inwards on the A38, and the fact that the road is one of the main links with the huge Eden Project, due to be opened for the Year 2000.
On Saturday banner-wielding protesters stood, at one point, completely across the road. An hour-long protest is now planned each Saturday throughout the summer. Last weekend was chosen as the start of the new-look campaign because it was the first Saturday after the schools broke up across the country.
Police were in attendance, but the demonstrators carefully staged their initial 90 minute protest, within the law. They used the pedestrian crossing in the centre of the village, continually pressing the button so that traffic had to trickle through.
Police eventually asked the protesters to stop, and they did, but stayed on the side of the road with placards and handed out leaflets to cars.
A team of over 40 volunteers had turned up to walk across the crossing, and there are people willing to do this every Saturday morning.
Parish council chairman, Derek Newton, said that the road cuts the village in half and elderly people and children, especially, are constantly at risk while trying to cross from one side to the other.
He pointed out that a bypass has been likely since l952, and residents now believe 'it is time for us to wave the flag and make somebody take notice'.
Mr Newton said they didn't want to annoy motorists, nor upset people's holidays. But many people in the village felt they had no choice and they hoped holidaymakers would understand why they were protesting.
He said that there had been a good response from motorists, with many sounding their horns and giving the thumbs up.
He explained that he felt those who travel to Cornwall every year are aware of Dobwalls, and so set out early to avoid the worst of the traffic. He added: 'If we had a bypass then people could simply go round the village.'
On busy days in the summer around 24,000 vehicles a day travel through Dobwalls.