CAMPAIGNERS gathered on Saturday to protest against Cornwall Council plans to transfer its car parks to “unscrupulous” operators.

More than 100 people attended the event held outside the Watergate Bay car park to oppose the Conservative Cabinet proposals.

A campaign titled Sort It Out, Don’t Sell It Off has been launched to fight the plans following the unitary council proposing to transfer 28 of its car parks to Cormac, an arm’s length company, to enable an ANPR parking system to be introduced in a bid to save £9million.

Campaigners fear the plans will result in higher parking fees, will limit affordable access to beaches, town centres, and essential services and that businesses in town centres could see a drop in footfall if affordable parking is lost.

Protestor believes the transfer will be "Another parking rip off" (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

They also fear the scheme could have a detrimental effect on residential areas if free winter parking is ended.

Cornwall Council has previously made a similar arrangement for Little Fistral car park where ANPR cameras were introduced in an attempt to deal with overnight camping, but concerns have been raised the scheme has turned the area into a “no go zone.”

Campaigners waved various banners and placards during the protest, which included Stop the Sell Off, Surf Tax, Another Parking Rip Off and More Homes but where’s the Parking. They received several toots of approval from passing motorists.

A public consultation on Cornwall Council’s proposals ended on Thursday. The unitary authority said it would carefully consider the responses before making its decision.

Children joined in the protest to get their voices heard (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Labour and Green councillors have united to fight the plans.

Campaigners fear the scheme will become a "Surf Tax" (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Green councillor Liz Wright, who helped organise the protest, said: “Newquay is going to take the brunt of these ill-thought-out proposals with five of the 28 car parks being within our community.

“ANPR cameras at Little Fistral imposed by Cornwall Council have turned a once well-loved spot for local families and school groups into a no-go zone.

“All the users of that car park do is put a towel over their number plate on entry and avoid any such fines.

“Watergate Bay is reliant on the off-season trade from locals using the free car parking particularly surfers, this feels like a surf tax.

“This is going to hit hardworking locals and visitors alike and will have a real detrimental impact on our town. This Tory administration at Cornwall Council seems hell bent on causing as much damage as possible before they are likely to be kicked out in May.”

Campaigners highlighted the need for affordable parking is needed more than ever in Newquay (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

There have been calls for Newquay Town Council to be permitted to operate the five car parks in the area, which Cornwall Council proposes to offload. They include Albany Road, Belmont Road, Newquay, Dane Road, Tregunnel and Watergate Bay.

Placard waving protestors received toots of approval from passing motorists (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Mayor Drew Creek said: “Newquay Greens understand that Cornwall Council main driver for these plans is that the Tory cabinet believes it has a widespread problem with visitors to these car parks not paying for parking, however the authority has no firm data to back up this claim.

“Councils do not have powers to utilise ANPR enforcement but by handing the car parks over to a private operator ANPR can be utilised.

“It has been great to see our community once again come out in force against Tory plans for our community.

“These car parks are community assets and should be kept in the hands of the local community not handed over to unscrupulous private businesses.

“Newquay Town Council has a track record of ensuring these assets in its control are for the public good and calls on Cornwall Council to explore this route as an alternative.

The protestors gather outside the Watergate Bay car park (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

“Where the town council has previously taken one car park at South Fistral we reduced parking fees to the cheapest in town and increased use and income by 20 per cent meaning this money can be used for maintaining our green spaces and parks within Newquay.

“The proposed use of ANPR at these sites is punitive and will destroy tourism and out of season economic activity in places like Watergate Bay.

“As mayor I have had several tourists contact me to complain about fines at other ANPR car parks they have received this summer it’s not the image you want them to go home with.

“These car parks are also vital for residents like those on Tolcarne Road who use Albany as they struggle with parking anywhere near their homes, this will make their situation infinitely worse.”

Jessie Joe Jacobs, who helped launch the Sort It Out, Don’t Sell It Off campaign group, said: “The strength of turn out shows how much people strongly feel about handing over our car parks, which will impact on our economy.

“The council is not listening. This is why we are calling for them to get around the table with us and work out what is the best way forward.”

Labour Newquay and St Austell MP Noah Law was in attendance to lend his support to the campaign.

He said: “I have come out to back the grass roots campaign. We need to get a handle of the parking situation in Newquay. We do not want the car parks being sold off and profits being handed over.”

St Columb Minor and Colan Cornwall councillor John Fitter, who attended the protest, said: “I am appalled at this quick rich idea coming from the current Cornwall administration, because of their lack of any business sense they solve their problem by attempting to hand over the management to a Birmingham based company, who will promptly introduce a all-year-round charging rate.

“Watergate Bay has always been a fee car park in the winter months, so not for the first time, the ratepayer is being asked to pay for management incompetence.”

Conservative councillor Olly Monk, the Cabinet member for planning and housing, has denied the car parks are being sold off.

The councillor states he has several red lines if he is to support the plans, which include keeping free winter parking, ensuring overnight parking is free in existing locations, and that charges remain consistent with other Cornwall Council car parks.

Cllr Monk, the Cornwall councillor for Newquay Trenance said: “The car parks are not being sold off.

“That’s been made clear from the start. Anyone saying they are is misleading the public.

“They are being leased to Cormac, which is owned by Cornwall Council.

“Cormac will then be able to run them using ANPR.

“My red lines are that any carparks transferred maintain their current charging structures including any existing winter free and overnight parking free periods.

“Cormac will operate the carparks within a set of conditions which will ensure that charging remains in line with the current charging rates.

“Any operator that runs the carparks will have to show that they can run them in a consistent manner and not operate them like some of the other private companies running private carparks who often face criticism for being overly aggressive.”