MEMBERS of Callington Town Council are calling for answers as to why £20,000 of taxpayers' money was spent on a small section of footpath that they say effectively goes nowhere in Kelly Bray.

But the instigator of the project this week told the Times that it was part of plan to eventually put a footway all the way around Florence Road, lower the speed limit and restrict HGV vehicles using it to improve pedestrian safety.

The contracting arm of Cornwall Council 'Cormac' spent a week working on Florence Road, which leads from the A388 to the A390, putting in a 60-metre section of footpath on the southern side of the road just outside the village.

But town councillor Maria Coakley said this was not an effective use of resources when there were so many other parts of the village in desperate need of work.

'The footpath effectively goes nowhere,' she said.

'The other side of the road has a dangerous section near the junction with the A388 and I would have thought that this would have been a far better use of the money if a footpath was necessary to have been built.'

Cllr Heather Jones said she understood that it was a scheme nominated by Cornwall Council's Kelly Bray ward member Jim Flashman — but it would have been far better if there had been consultation between local councillors and residents.

'I think it is sad that this money has been spent without any consultation,' she said.

Town and Cornwall councillor Andrew Long said he was not aware of any information on the footpath coming before the town council.

He said he would be asking for answers from Cornwall Council and Cllr Flashman as to why the footpath was built in that place.

Cllr Flashman said eventually the footway would go all around Florence Road, giving pedestrians safer access to the north entrance of Kit Hill and café facilities at the Engine House.

He said the money had come from his highways budget to carry out priority work in the area.

'Unfortunately there is no money left to continue the footpath at the moment but what has been built has been done to prevent pedestrians being killed on a very dangerous corner,' he said.

'There is a footway that leads from Callington Motors to the last bungalow on Florence Road on the northern side already in place.

'The footpath could not be extended on that side of the road so it has been built on the other side of the road.

'I hope we can extend that further up Florence Road next year.'

Cllr Flashman added: 'Rome was not built in a day and engineering work is very costly.'

The councillor said applications were 'going through the process' to get the speed limit reduced to 40mph from 60mph and restrict HGV use to delivery access on Florence Road.