A CONSULTATION in Callington to obtain views on a proposed one-way system and town centre improvement during July has been hailed a great success after almost 600 people took part.

The consultation, which ended in the town on Sunday, was the second time townspeople had been asked to give their views on the project — last year's consultation only produced 126 responses.

Three options were put forward this time as the original option received opposition from traders, although more residents were in favour of the scheme.

The improvements, which include directional traffic flow, a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Tavistock Road and Saltash Road, pavement widening and more on-street car parking spaces, are being funded by Tesco, which opened a store on the outskirts of Callington a year ago, and led by the town council.

But traders remain opposed to the improvements as they feel a one-way system will discourage people from visiting the shops. They have displayed 'No Way to One Way' signs in shop windows and held at protest at the recent Callington Carnival.

Cornwall and town councillor for Callington Andrew Long, who organised the consultation, said he was really pleased with the turnout this time: 'A total of 595 people took part in the consultation which is amazing. I am pleased that so many people took the time to fill in the form.

'The level of interest in this important issue has surprised many, and the fact that it was a larger turnout than for some local council by-elections tells its own story.'

The consultation will now be taken out to the villages that surround Callington and use its services as they would be heavily affected by the changes.

'Over the next couple of weeks I will, together with a colleague from the west of Cornwall, go through the verification process and start compiling the results which will be published once the villages have gone through the consultation process,' added Mr Long.

Confirmed dates are Golberdon Village Hall on Saturday, August 20 from 10am to 4pm and St Dominic Village Hall on August 24 from 10am to 1pm.

Dates will be confirmed for Upton Cross, Gunnislake, Stoke Climsland, St Mellion and Pensilva later this week.

Mr Long said he was grateful for the assistance of the town council and Callington Traders' Association for ensuring the issue gained the publicity needed to create such a turnout.