Your feedback on our recent travel survey

A big “thank you” to everyone who took part in our recent Travel Survey questionnaire at the Royal Cornwall Hospital which we undertook for six weeks until the end of July 2024. The results of these have been combined with further survey work that took place in early September to track vehicle traffic between the A390 hospital roundabout and patient/staff car parks, and how / where pedestrians cross that busy road.

We received 710 responses to the questionnaire, 41% from patients and visitors, and 59% from staff. Three quarters of respondents, lived up to 20 miles from the hospital, with just more than half of respondents suggesting travel times of up to 30 minutes. 27% said it took between 30 and 45 minutes to travel.

Some 65% of survey respondents travelled by petrol/diesel car to the hospital, and only 6% of patients use the Park and Ride.

When asked what might help change this practice, several suggestions were made including:

• More public transport options
• More direct bus routes (less stops)
• Easy to read timetables
• Car share groups for different postcodes
• Increased bike parking facilities

Those willing to use bus services, including the Park and Ride, suggested to encourage increased use of the service:

• Operation outside of traditional working hours to allow shift workers to use it
• Concessionary rate for two people using it with one car
• Increased frequency of buses
• Another service from the Falmouth side of Truro
• Discounted rates

The surveys have been conducted to support the Travel Plan proposal that is being submitted to Cornwall Council as part of our planning application for the new Pathology Building, a key enabling project for our new Women and Children’s Hospital.

The findings will also feed into longer term plans and will include working with local partners such as the Accessibility Advisory Group and Bicycle User Group to provide and improve environmentally-friendly travel solutions, parking and access routes around the hospital.

Live traffic surveys are ongoing, to provide further evidence regarding traffic flow into and out of the site. We will be working with Cornwall Council to come up with solutions to road safety issues around the site. 

Some improvements have been made already, including making sure that lighting in staff car parks is working out of hours. Potholes in the car park have been filled, and more tarmac has been laid at the main entrance to help prevent future issues.