CALLS for the extension of the popular Camel Trail multi-modal transport trail to Camelford have been submitted by the MP for North Cornwall.

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat member of parliament for North Cornwall, has called on the government to provide the financial resources required to enable work to link Camelford with the existing trail, which goes between Bodmin and Padstow via Wadebridge on the former railway line to become a reality.

The calls come on the back of work in recent years to introduce more ‘river walk’ type amenities to connect communities by transport other than road traffic amid ongoing concern about climate change and strategies to boost healthy lifestyles by the general public.

A study by Sustrans, a cycling and active travel charity published in December 2020, assessed the viability of various schemes to connect parts of North Cornwall with each other.

At the time it indicated that to connect Camelford via a 15 kilometre extension from the Camel Trail would cost approximately £11.4-million, based on calculations involving figures used in budgeting the controversial ‘Saints Trail’ scheme in West Cornwall.

In a letter to ministers in the Department of Transport, the MP said: “I am writing to formally request that you give serious consideration to the proposal of extending the Camel Trail River walk to Camelford, a project with significant potential to transform North Cornwall’s active travel infrastructure. As I highlighted at the Parliamentary debate on rural cycling infrastructure and in my recent meeting with you, this extension would deliver huge economic and health benefits to both residents and visitors to Cornwall.

“The Camel Trail, which runs alongside the River Camel, is already one of the most popular off-road, multi-use trails in the country, attracting more than 400,000 users annually. Over half of these are residents of Cornwall and expanding this trail further along the river to reach the town of Camelford would not only bring much needed regeneration but also create an alternative, non-car commuter route to major towns such as Padstow, Camelford, Bodmin and Wadebridge, and bring a positive flow of visitors that otherwise may not visit.

“This project aligns with Cornwall’s ambition to achieve at least 50 per cent of all journeys under five miles through active travel by 2030 and also supports the government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, improving public health and increasing responsible access to nature. I could think of no other project that serves to meet these vital targets so well. The extension proposal would also address your manifesto commitment to create nine new National River Walks, one in each region of England.

“Early feasibility work by Sustrans has shown that this expansion is indeed achievable with local support for the project being very strong. Residents, councillors and active travel advocates alike see this as a golden opportunity to address the rural transport poverty North Cornwall faces while connecting communities in a sustainable, transformative way. I cannot overstate how much Camelford is in need of urgent economic stimulus and regeneration following years of neglect by successive governments.”