Prince William Champions New Access Road For Mousehole AFC

An ambitious infrastructure project backed by HRH The Prince of Wales is set to transform access to Mousehole AFC, creating new opportunities for sport, community events, and reducing congestion in the local village of Paul.

Construction work began today (30 June 2025) on a new access road that will serve Mousehole AFC, the club’s seasonal campsite, and neighbouring Paul Cricket Club. For years, the only route to the club has been via a narrow, pothole-ridden lane through the village—leading to traffic issues, damaged vehicles, and logistical headaches for visiting teams and supporters.

After hearing about the issues being faced by the local community, The Prince and the Duchy of Cornwall worked with CRH, a global leader in building materials, to see if they could help develop a lasting solution.

Simon Taylor, Project Lead for Mousehole AFC, said:
“Within a week, I was in a Teams meeting with Martin Riley, who’d been invited by HRH to see what could be done to help fix the existing road.
Two weeks later, Martin visited the club. After experiencing the lane for himself, he quickly realised a full repair wasn’t viable. With planning permission already secured for an alternative access point, we turned our attention to the possibility of building a brand-new road.
Countless meetings—both on-site and virtual—later, we’ve pulled together an incredible consortium of local and national companies who’ve committed their time, resources, and expertise to bring this dream to life.”

The construction is being carried out at no cost to the club, thanks to generous in-kind contributions from the following partners:

·       ISC (part of the GRS Group) – Specialists in enabling works, earthworks and civil engineering across the UK.

·       Maen Karne (part of the GRS Group) – Cornwall’s leading supplier of bagged and loose aggregates and waste removal services.

·       Tarmac – The UK’s leading sustainable construction materials, road contracting and building products business.

·       Griffiths – A major civil engineering contractor with a large-scale plant fleet and decades of experience.

·       Holcim (Aggregate Industries) – Experts in asphalt and paving solutions with a strong focus on sustainability.

·       Colas – Global leaders in transport infrastructure and highway maintenance, with local operations in Cornwall.

·       Cormac – Cornwall-based contractors delivering road building, surfacing and civil engineering services.

·       Keyline – National civils and drainage suppliers with a strong presence in Cornwall.

The Prince of Wales said:

“I have seen time and time again that community hubs are essential in providing the spaces for people to come together, to build stronger communities and to allow people to thrive. It is a privilege to be able to help the local community access Mousehole AFC. I’d like to personally add my thanks for all the hard work that’s gone into making it happen. I look forward to seeing the new road for myself as soon as I can.”

The route has also been made possible thanks to the generosity of local landowner Paul Pond, who has granted access to part of his land, and the years of tireless campaigning by Vice Chair Deryk Heywood.

In addition to improved access, the project will deliver new parking facilities, which will enable the club to expand its offering of sporting, social, and cultural events for the wider community.

Simon Taylor adds:
“This project is transformative—not just for Mousehole AFC but for the entire area. The cricket club will also benefit from the new road, and we’ll now be able to host more events at Interiora Trungle Parc, turning it into a true community hub. Most importantly, it will take matchday and holiday traffic out of the village, improving the experience for everyone.
I’m incredibly grateful to our consortium—there are too many individuals to name—but their support has been extraordinary. Special thanks go to Martin Riley for his dedication and guidance, GRS Group CEO Jon Fisher—without whose project leadership we could not have moved forward—and of course to HRH The Prince of Wales, whose involvement made this possible.”

Jon Fisher, Chief Executive of GRS Group, which is leading the works, said:
“This project is a powerful example of the difference we can make when we bring together our national capability and expertise. It reflects what GRS is all about – building infrastructure that improves lives and connects communities – and it’s one of many grassroots initiatives we’re proud to support nationwide. Improving this access road will benefit the wider community around Mousehole, and it’s something we’re very proud to be involved with.”

The new road is expected to be completed in time for the start of Mousehole AFC’s 2025/26 season in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South this August.