THE people of Callington and district have said 'no way' to a one-way system in the town.

Almost 80% of the 633 residents who responded to the consultation rejected all the three options for the town centre scheme.

Traders who have been vehemently against the plans, were celebrating a victory this week and said 'common sense had prevailed'.

Restaurant owner Gail Buttery said: 'The campaign by the business community to raise awareness of these proposals has been highly successful. I am just pleased that we got there in time to challenge the town council to try and stop these ludicrous proposals going ahead.

'If the Callington traders did not pick this up earlier in the year it would have been a fait accompli. Who in their right mind would think a one-way system would offset the detriment of a supermarket opening on the edge of town?'

It will now be a case of going back to the drawing board to discuss what should be done with the money given to the town by Tesco for community enhancement, which stands at £106,000.

More than 25% of the original £140,000 has been spent on two consultations, drawings and measurings for the one-way options.

Cornwall councillor for Callington Andrew Long, who instigated the latest consultation, said the people had been listened to and the opposition was clear.

'This has been a worthwhile exercise and I am pleased so many people have taken part. Obviously, it is frustrating in a way to have to go all the way around the houses to get to this stage but we are where we are. It is vitally important we now move forward on this.'

The one-way system proposal, which first went out to consultation at the end of last year, came out of the responses to the Callington Town Plan in 2005. When the money became available to do the work, through the Tesco development, Callington Town Council worked with Cornwall Council to put forward a proposal which included making Church Street and Well Street one-way.

But the plans split the community and a second consultation was carried out after the first one proved inconclusive. This time three options were given for highways improvements.

Cllr Long is proposing that a working group is set up, made up of members of town organisations, to discuss alternative ways of using the money.

Project engineer for Cornwall Council Alistair Uglow said given the strength of feeling, it would be difficult to continue with the one-way plans, even though it was something the council had been led to believe was wanted locally.

'There are aspects of the plan like the pedestrian crossing which were very popular but without closing off one of the roads to traffic it may cause so much congestion that it is unfeasible,' he said.