A prominent councillor has been criticised for stating work to improve public spaces in Newquay would benefit businesses.

Councillor Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for transport, said making the roads leading to and around Newquay Railway Station safer for walkers and cyclists could “increase dwell time in local shops and businesses.”

But Dirk Parker, who owns K2 in Cliff Road, says businesses in the area believe the scheme will have a detrimental impact as it involves removing 19 short term parking spaces along Cliff Road to make way for a new cycle lane.

The project is due to get underway next year as part of the Mid Cornwall Metro Project.

Businesses put forward an alternative route during the public consultation for the cycle path along Station Approach, into an existing cycle path on Tolcarne Road and around to Edgcumbe Avenue where it would join up with the existing proposed scheme.

Cornwall Council has decided to push ahead with its original plans. Phase one will see a widened walking and cycle shared-use path built along Narrowcliff beginning at the junction of Edgecumbe Avenue to The Barrowfields, which will take place between January and March 2025.

Phase two, which is currently being designed and will be consulted on early next year will extend the walking and cycle path along Edgecumbe Avenue to Oakleigh Terrace and provide more crossing points, will take place between September to December 2025.

Cornwall Council is developing proposals to increase the free parking duration at Newquay Station car park and provide additional parking at Tolcarne Road Coach Park as part of this phase of the project.

Mr Parker said: “Businesses on Cliff Road vehemently disagree with Connor Donnithorne.

“I find it bizarre and arrogant for Connor to make this type of nonsense public statement having not spoken to a single business owner on Cliff Road.

“Cornwall Council is bankrupt and yet here he is giving financial advice to businesses who have been trading successfully for decades.

“Maybe he should take advice from us. Does he think he knows our customers better than us?

“I do not need to pull up one of hundreds of papers that show free parking stimulates local trade.

“It's this total lack of common sense that is destroying Cornwall Council and wrecking our town centres. I would like to invite Connor down personally to meet the businesses of Cliff Road.

“Newquay BID and Newquay Town team have jointly requested an independent business impact assessment from Cornwall Council.

“Cornwall Council need to be acutely aware that and changes to highways which lead to a devaluation on assets will lead to direct compensation to those owners under the Land Compensation Act 1973.

“Businesses will be lost. Every single business I have spoken to from the Arcade to the estate agents to the solicitors, camping shop, Mac store and hairdressers all strongly oppose the removal of 20 free parking spaces to be replaced with a cycle lane.

“The only reason we oppose this is because it will lead to a direct loss of trade.

“Obviously if we thought it would increase trade, we would welcome it. When can we get some normal common sense back to Cornwall councillors?”

Newquay central Cornwall councillor Louis Gardner says the scheme will create more parking in the area.

Cllr Gardner said: “In order to mitigate the loss of parking spaces on Cliff Road, new spaces will be created outside Wetherspoons and on Oakleigh Terrace.

“In addition, a new car park will be created on the site of the old Newquay Disable Club and the number of spaces in the Railway Station car park increased with the first period free for all users. This will result in a large increase in parking in the area.”

Cllr Donnithorne has been approached for a comment.