'Ski jump' speed hump sparks complaints

The table-top speed hump is part of a project on Malpas Road in Truro

Engineers have been asked to review a speed hump which drivers have described as a "ski jump" on a Cornish road.

Councillor Loic Rich, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the traffic calming measure on Malpas Road in Truro had been the focus of several complaints on social media as motorists said it was too high.

Mr Rich said he had asked the engineer in charge of the project to look at potentially reducing the size of the hump as the size of it "seemed a bit excessive".

The council said the hump met highways standards and it had not received any objections during a public consultation.

'Absolutely ticked off'

The table-top hump, which has a flattened top, is part of a scheme to improve safety and provide better facilities along the Truro River which is due to be completed by the end of 2025.

One motorist who took to social media to complain about the hump said the height needed to be reduced, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"Is anyone else absolutely ticked off with what they are doing to Malpas Road as regards the ridiculous road hump (ski jump) that has been installed recently?" they said.

"Sometimes I have to go over it six times a day which cannot be good for the suspension on my car!"

Motorists think the speed hump is too high and could be damaging their vehicles

Dozens of others have complained on social media about the traffic calming measure, with one person saying: "If you don't crawl across it, it certainly affects your suspension."

Others have supported the hump, saying it provided valuable safety measures along the busy road.

One person said: "It only takes a couple of seconds to slow and drive over even the harshest of speed pumps.

"Unfortunately idiots who have no regard for speed limits have caused this sort thing to be implemented."

Independent councillor Mr Rich said said: "Speed humps should be used to make people adhere to the speed limit, in this case 20mph (32.2km/h), so if this means people are having to slow down to 3mph (4.83km/h) it could actually cause accidents."

A council spokesperson said the hump formed part of a table-top road crossing which had been built to highway standards.

They added the kerbs at the crossing had been lowered and no objections were received during a public consultation in December and January.

"As with all changes to the highway, letters were sent to homes in the local area before the work took place," the spokesperson said.