The future of Falmouth School’s plans to develop sporting facilities for the whole community could be in jeopardy after councillors failed to back proposals for a new roundabout at Union Corner, putting that scheme in doubt also.

Members of Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee eventually agreed to defer making a decision on proposals for the new single roundabout at their meeting last week after an initial motion to approve the scheme fell on the casting vote of the chairman who had backed local member David Saunby’s stance.

A meeting is to be held today (Wednesday) in a bid to come up with solutions to councillors’ concerns as time is running out to ensure the construction of the roundabout can be completed by next July. If work does not start in January, the council will lose out on £1.6million of Department for Transport funding which will mean it cannot proceed with the project.

This in turn, could affect the future of Falmouth School’s plans to purchase the former Budock Hospital site and create enhanced sporting facilities as this relies on the sale of the pitch at Union Corner for housing. Developers, it is claimed, would only be interested in that site if improvements are made to the road layout.

When councillors met last week, they were told Sport England objects to the roundabout proposals, as does the police architectural liaison officer, who has concerns over pedestrian safety.

They also heard from Martyn Rosevear who lives at Woodman’s Corner and would be surrounded on all sides by roads if the plans went ahead. He said: “At the moment I can drive straight onto the mini-roundabout, but the new arrangement will require me crossing two lanes of southerly flowing traffic in addition to looking for a gap in traffic flowing from the north. Even in moderately busy times, this will be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous.”

Speaking in favour, Brett Miners, head teacher at Falmouth School, said the proposals would improve pupil safety, as children would not have to cross the road to the pitch at Union Corner, and would facilitate the purchase of the hospital site and in turn the provision of extended sporting facilities.

He said: “As head teacher, I have two primary concerns, one is the safety of children and the other is to be at the heart of the community and providing facilities for the community as we move forward. The road scheme will make Falmouth School a safer place for children.”

Councillors, though, were split on the application with some questioning whether the roundabout is being proposed to solve traffic problems or to facilitate the development of the pitch for housing.

Steve Gudge, Cornwall Council’s major project officer, responded: “This junction has been identified for a number of years in terms of its inability to cope with existing traffic flows and its inability to cope with any future traffic flow resulting from development in the Falmouth area.

“That is why it’s on the list and that is why we applied for DFT funding, particularly through a pinch-point bid because the purpose of pinch-point funding is to improve journey time reliability and capacity, it’s not there for any other purpose.”

The two local members, Mr Saunby and Councillor Neil Hatton, who represents Budock, had opposing opinions. Mr Saunby voiced concerns about the residents of Woodman’s Corner and the fact the two lanes would lead onto Bickland Water Road rather than from that direction.

“Until they address the main problem of curing the traffic that builds up coming along Bickland Water Road I cannot see the point of progressing a scheme that’s destined to fail or show little improvement to the current situation. I feel the designers have got it wrong,” said Mr Saunby.

Mr Hatton, though, said: “I’m trying to weigh up what are the benefits of the scheme and the principal benefactor would be Falmouth School and that is a strong plus for me. I do not think this roundabout will alleviate the sheer volume of traffic that’s going to be using this roundabout so therefore is it really worth all the disruption and disadvantages to some residents?“It needs a lot more money, but there isn’t any money. There are land constraints so you cannot put in another bypass. On balance I’m going to recommend approval because I’m slightly tilted in favour of the school development.”

The motion to approve went to deadlock at nine votes for and against with one abstention so chairman Rob Nolan used his casting vote to side with Mr Saunby. A second motion to defer making a decision to allow time to get more information on the impact it would have on residents of Woodman’s Corner and to look at the police architect’s comments.

A meeting is to be held today with designers, residents, Mr Miners and local councillors to try to resolve issues and find a way forward. The aim is to bring the application back before the strategic planning committee next month.