BUSINESESS and residents say they are angry the team behind the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme is on track to remove parking bays in Newquay town centre to make way for a cycle route.

Cornwall Council plans to replace the three bays outside Morrisons Daily, Dominoes and the Old Factory Shop in Cliff Road with cycle lanes to encourage people to cycle more despite criticism in its public consultation.

Businesses argued the scheme would negatively impact trade if the convenient 19 short term parking spaces are removed, which was backed up by the “damning” survey that showed 49 per cent of respondents would use the businesses less due to the removal of the parking.

They believe the council has avoided implementing an alternative route that had been put forward, which goes down the lane beside Little Kahuna, onto Tolcarne Road where there is an existing cycle lane, then up to Edgecumbe Avenue on the right side where there are no parking bays.

Newquay Central Cornwall councillor Louie Gardner says the parking spaces in Cliff Road will be replaced by new parking bays on Oakleigh Terrace and increased capacity in the station car park.

But businesses believe the bays at Oakleigh Terrace will be “great” for residents on Springfield Road but would not help the shops along Cliff Road.

Businesses and residents have criticised the plans to remove the Cliff Road parking bay following Cormac’s announcement that it is staging an engagement event to showcase the changes to the design after “listening to feedback” from the public consultation.

The event will be staged at the Griffin Hotel in Newquay on Thursday, October 24, from 10.30am to 6.30pm.

Dirk Parker, the owner of K2 Gym in Cliff Road, said: “Ten years ago Cliff Road was the arse end of Newquay.

“Now it is arguably the busiest road all year round. This is because businesses have taken a gamble on the area and invested in their premises.

“Restaurants like Rebellion, Secret Garden, Pachanga, SaltD have livened the street up, retailers such as TEK shop have invested and upgraded their stores K2 Gym invested £250,000 into their premises over lockdown. We would not have done this without the 20 parking spaces available for customers.

“One of the main reasons Cliff Road has no charity shops and is open all year round is because we are the last road to have on road free parking.”

The Mid Cornwall Metro scheme will enhance the Newquay Branch Line and will create a coast to coast through-service connecting St Austell and Par to Newquay, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth.

Cllr Gardner believes businesses will benefit from the doubling of the number of rail services between Newquay and Par, but they are not so convinced.

Dirk said: “Cornwall Council needs to grow up. Are they serious about helping Newquay’s high street or are they more interested in vanity projects to help their next election campaign. 

“It’s a fact. The two hourly train from Par currently runs at 15% capacity. Doubling capacity clearly isn’t going to bring additional shoppers from Par.

“The high street is already suffering. The general public complain about lack of quality shops in Newquay Removing free parking pushes any retail out of town.

“There’s a reason Marks & Spencer at Kingsley Village is rammed 52 weeks a year. It’s not because it’s in Fraddon. It’s because it has easy parking.

“Cornwall Council’s own survey showed 49% of locals will use Cliff Road businesses less due to removal of free parking. 

“A sensible alternative exists. Alternative would save the taxpayer money and save the parking. Cornwall Council is actively avoiding this alternative.

“There has been a complete lack of common sense involved.

“Every business on Cliff Road opposes this. Newquay BID oppose this.

“Many survey respondents replied saying it would be more difficult to access businesses on Cliff Road.

“Cornwall Council’s response is basically to say, no, it will be fine. Apparently Cornwall Council know better than the businesses and the residents?

“This is a Cornwall Council verging on bankruptcy that apparently knows more about shopkeeper’s businesses than the shop keepers themselves and their customers.

“Having Cornwall councillors tell real businessman what is best for their businesses is both comical and extraordinarily arrogant.

“I would give them the benefit of doubt and say its incompetency. What is the Cornwall Council’s record of customer service and running a profitable business?

“Cornwall Council spent £120,000 via the Town Team on London based consultants to find ways to “revitalise the high street.”

“This is an absurd misappropriation of funds. Removing parking is the quickest way to destroy the high street for generations.”

Businesses fighting the removal of the parking bays have received backing from Newquay BID.

Dirk said: “Newquay BID has been fantastic in helping the businesses of Cliff Road and spoke to an urban architect who sensibly suggested the cycle route could instead be routed beside Kahuna, towards Micro, then up the right-hand side of Edgcumbe Avenue.

“As there is a cycle path already in place this would be cheaper and retain the Cliff Road parking. This has been utterly ignored. To his credit I showed former MP Steve Double this suggestion and he seemed to agree it was sensible, but ultimately the decision sits with Cornwall Council.”

There are concerns taking away the parking bays will detrimentally impact residents as well as businesses.

Dirk said: “Cornwall Council claim there are virtually no private residencies on Cliff Road.

“We have manually counted a minimum of 36 flats above the shops that rely on this parking for loading, unloading, getting their kids in and out safely and home deliveries. 

“The Newquay neighbourhood plan states that any new flat requires a minimum of one private parking space per bedroom or will be refused planning permission, yet Cornwall Council is choosing to remove any parking or loading from these 36 flats. All for an 80m stretch of cycle lane. Again. Incompetency.

“The plans to remove the free parking was always going ahead and the consultation and survey was a tick box exercise, but also a way to avoid answering our questions.

“The biggest let down is the complete lack of respect shown to businesses and residents throughout the process.”

Cllr Gardner said: “The bays will be going but will be replaced with new parking bays on Oakleigh Terrace and increased capacity in the station carpark which will offer an initial time period free for all users as well as a new resident only carpark on Tolcarne Road.

“Businesses will see increased footfall in the area from not only the greater frequency of trains but also increased pedestrians and cyclists.

“Most importantly of all, this area has been the site of a number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists and these new measures will go a long way to increase the safety of road users in the area.”

Businesses on Cliff Road, some of which have been there for more than 15 years, say they have never heard about an accident there involving a pedestrian and a cyclist.