23/02/2026 UPDATE: Following lobbying from Millbrook Parish Council and Cllr Kate Ewert, Cornwall Council’s contractors returned to adjust the VAS sensors. The sign is now activated every time a car comes down Hounster Hill, and no longer just when cars are approaching the Narrows from both directions simultaneously.
How the sign is funded
Following the Aecom / Hounster Hill Feasibility Study (funded by the Parish Council), Cornwall Council agreed to cover the costs of the for the Vehicle Activation Sign
How it works
The Vehicle Activation Sign (VAS) sensor identifies vehicles as they approach the yellow box, in Dodbrook See image 1, before turning the corner into the Narrows, by Bar Tusker and proceeding up Hounster Hill.
Sensors also trigger (from the point in the image 2 shown below) vehicles coming down hill just at the intersection with Radford Lane. The VAS illuminates if a vehicles are trying to go up the hill at the same time as coming down.
Image 1
There is a uni-directional sensor within the narrow section, which will pick up vehicles travelling east/down the hill. Sensors will also trigger (from the point in the image 2 shown below) if vehicles are trying to go up the hill at the same time.
Image 2
The sensors will only work if vehicles are approaching the Narrows from Dodbrook when vehicles are also coming down the hill.
The sign timer restarts for each vehicle triggering the sensor (ie. when there are several cars coming down Hounster Hill)
The angle has been set as wide as the road.
The height of the sign complies with Highway standards.
During the meeting the engineer agreed to adjust the timing so that that sign activated for longer (increased to 7 -8 seconds)
How to report any issues / defects
Use the link below to report on Cornwall Council’s website.
This system was installed before Christmas and I have been involved with some of the many attempts to reset it, As originally set up, after earlier trials, it should provide a real-time warning to a driver approaching the Dodbrook corner from Fourlanesend direction, that traffic is approaching. (but, as we know, is out of sight) The warning is lit-up when incoming vehicles trigger sensors in the road at it’s widest point just before the Narrows. That is what the information put out here by the Parish Council seems to say (it could be more clearly put) Now, by mid March I am picking up a lot of confusion, and much dismay over how this ha been handled by various parties, and it is not clear to me what the Parish Council’s current position is. Many people now see the system providing the warning light ((not consistently) but now only when is is triggered by traffic leaving the Village going up Hounster Hill. My understanding is that the new sign is for information only – it’s not a Traffic Signal : I also understand that it was the work of Cornwall Council-Highways (not Cormac) There doesn’t seem to be any sort of Formal Design Drawing available to make any reference to. Wherever I look it’s all a bit wishy-washy
First of all, this is incomprehensible. Please rewrite it more logically. Secondly who decided we needed an automated sign? Surely some appropriately positioned convex mirrors would have been a better solution in terms of reliability and energy efficiency not to mention maintenance. My concern is that this will lead drivers to rely on the accuracy of the sign and decrease the necessary caution required to navigate this awkward corner safely. I foresee an increase in the number of accidents and near misses in this area together with increased costs from operating and maintaining this unnecessary sign.
Thank you for your comment. The post has now been reworded. Following public consultation, Cornwall Council decided that a VAS system would be the most effective solution. Following lobbying from ourselves and Cllr Kate Ewert, Cornwall Council contractors have been back and the VAS sensor timings have been adjusted so that the sign is activated every time a car comes down the hill. If you have any further concerns regarding the function of the sign, please report it directly to Cornwall Council: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-parking-and-streets/roads-highways-and-pavements/report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement/report-a-problem-with-a-street-light-or-illuminated-sign/
It’s not able to be seen when coming out of West street ,because it is facing towards dodbrook, so those cars from west street will still go through and meet the ones coming down the hill ???
Traffic lights would be so much better!
Hello Hayley, Thank you for your feedback. The post is for information only (the scheme has been funded by Cornwall Council) There has previously been consultation carried by both Millbrook Parish Council and Cormac. Details of Vehicle Activation Scheme were published in Parish Council newsletter. Due to vehicles congestion and offer additional traffic conflicts it was considered traffic Lights were not viable option. For further information see pages 66/67 – https://millbrook-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AI11-0384-Millbrook-Feasibility-Study-Report-P03-1.pdf