A TOWN councillor has expressed the hope that Beryl Bikes will return to St Austell in the future.

Cllr Oliver Kimber, who represents the Poltair and Mount Charles ward, was speaking after the electric bicycles were removed from the town.

Disappointed town councillors have been told the e-bikes scheme has been dropped because of a lack of use.

Dozens of bicycles were provided through the Cornwall Council-backed initiative in the spring of last year at locations around St Austell.

The e-bikes cost £1 to unlock and then 15p per minute. Cornwall councillors at the time that said the cost was reasonable and affordable, and that the e-bikes would be a fun and green way of travelling around.

However, less than 18 months later, the environmentally-friendly travel scheme has come to an end.

Explaining the decision, a Beryl Bikes spokesperson said: “We’re constantly reviewing and assessing our schemes, alongside our local authority partners, to ensure they continue to be delivered as safely and effectively as possible.

“Overall, the Cornwall bike share scheme has proven to be very popular, generating nearly 234,000 journeys across nearly 600,000km and nearly 57,000 hours of physical activity since launch.

“However, due to comparatively low ridership, we have decided to remove all current bikes from St Austell and relocate them to other areas within the Cornwall bike share scheme.”

Cllr Oliver Kimber wants to see Beryl Bikes returning to St Austell.
Cllr Oliver Kimber wants to see Beryl Bikes returning to St Austell. ( )

In response, Cllr Kimber has said: “It is disappointing that Beryl Bikes has made the executive decision to leave the town completely.

“When the bikes first came into the town, they were used a considerable amount. However, in the last few months I have seen they were being used less and less.

“They've been abused quite a bit and young people, around secondary school age, have been a huge problem, weaving in and out of cars and onto pavements, and nearly knocking people off the pavement as well.

“The bikes from St Austell have been moved to Truro and Falmouth. However, I am sure that Beryl Bikes will return.

Cllr Kimber says an e-bike hub could be provided near the Cornwall College campus once redevelopment is complete. Picture: Paul Williams
Cllr Kimber says an e-bike hub could be provided near the Cornwall College campus once redevelopment is complete. Picture: Paul Williams ( )

“With the new Cornwall College campus being built, I am sure that Beryl Bikes will see an opportunity to bring the bikes back into the town.

“I hope they will see that the campus will be a huge hub for education, and that they will ensure there is a hub for the bikes by the college.

“I will continue to fight the case to bring the bikes back into St Austell and especially in my ward of Poltair and Mount Charles, along with the Cornwall councillor for the ward, Cllr Richard Williams-Pears.

“If anyone would like to voice their concerns on this matter, please do get in contact with me via email or get in contact with your Cornwall councillor.”