TOWN councillors have expressed their disappointment over Beryl Bikes being removed from St Austell.

They have been told the electric bicycle scheme is being dropped because of a lack of use.

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

The bikes cost £1 to unlock and then 15p per minute. Cornwall councillors said the cost was reasonable and affordable, and that the 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.

As well as expressing disappointment that the bikes were being removed, town councillors suggested that they would be better used if they were located around the clay trails.

With this is mind, the councillors decided to write to Cornwall Council expressing their disappointment and requesting that consideration be given to a partial removal of the bikes and their use being extended to the trails.

However, a Cornwall Council spokesperson has told the Voice: “We have supported our partner Beryl in continuously monitoring and reviewing take-up of our hireable e-bike pilot programme to ensure as many residents as possible have access to this low-carbon, active and affordable form of travel.

“While there has been high e-bike use in many of the towns where Beryl Bikes have been introduced, ridership figures in St Austell are lower in comparison to other trial areas in Cornwall.

“Because of this Beryl has taken the decision to transfer the e-bikes in St Austell to other pilot areas in Cornwall to increase capacity where there is greater take-up.”

A spokesperson for Beryl Bikes 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. However, due to comparatively low ridership, we have decided to remove all current bikes from St Austell.”