Businesses are still holding out hope the team behind the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme will backpedal on their plans to remove parking bays in Newquay town centre to make way for a cycle route.

Newquay MP Steve Double met with business owners and pledged to feedback their fears, which include lose of trade if 19 short term parking spaces along Cliff Road are turned into a new cycle lane.

Cornwall Council proposes to replace the three bays outside Morrisons Daily, Dominoes and the Old Factory Shop with cycle lanes to encourage people to cycle more.

But businesses argue the unitary authority needs to make it as convenient as possible for people to park up and visit due to the fierce competition they face against companies such as Amazon.

Dirk Parker, the owner of K2 Gym in Cliff Road, showed Mr Double around an alternative route for the cycle lane that could be put in place, 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.

A public consultation on the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme that included the plans to remove the parking bays, is being “analysed” by Cornwall Council to help inform the next stage of the design.

Dirk said: “We discussed how part of the Central Government grant requires local planners to include ‘increased active travel’ to be eligible for the grant. 

“Unfortunately, Cornwall Council planners have decided this means bulldozing the free parking that is so essential to all Cliff Road businesses.

“I walked Steve around an alternative proposed route which manages to tick that box and still conform to central government requirements. Motorists are an easy target.”

Mr Double added: “Having spoken to a number of businesses there, although there are a range of views, it is clear there is some concern about the impact the removal of the parking spaces will have.

“I will ensure Cornwall Council are aware of these concerns at my next meeting with the Mid Cornwall Metro team. 

“If these proposals come forward there will be a statutory consultation on the legal changes to the road when all interested parties will be able to feed in their views and concerns.”

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “Consultation on proposed changes to the streetscape and public realm on Cliff Road and around Newquay Station ended on March 17. 

“The feedback received is being analysed, in particular responses to the design of the scheme from the schools’ sessions and the exit surveys. 

“This will then help inform the next stage of design which, ultimately, will be subject to a formal Traffic Regulation Order consultation later this year.”