Cornwall business owners have called for residents to sign a petition appealing to Cornwall Council to reconsider the reintroduction of evening parking charges. 

From the end of May, Truro is set to see increases in short-term parking costs, and the end of free evening parking in city-centre car parks. However, following public feedback, evening charges have been reduced to £2 rather than the initial proposition of £2.50 between 6pm to midnight. But the move is still unpopular. 

Evening parking has been free in Truro since 2018, when it was introduced in a bid to boost the city’s evening economy for businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues including the Hall for Cornwall.

Cath King runs the Old Bakery business hub and arts venue in Malpas Road. Events on Fridays and Saturday evenings attract up to 250 people, and community groups use the venue regularly, including more than 70 people who attend the weekly Sing Truro Choir.

Mrs King has written to Cllr Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, with her concerns. She has also launched a petition at www.change.org which has more than 2,000 signatures. 

“The current system is a huge business and customer incentive, and an invaluable marketing tool for Visit Truro,” she said. “The ease of free parking from 4pm makes the city and its facilities much easier to access for so many people, and importantly provides support to many hard-working residents who have no choice but to drive to work and cannot park near their homes.

“The stance on this issue seems counter-intuitive to us, as it is placing yet another burden on all the wonderful and passionate small businesses. I have been approached by hundreds of people who are so very grateful that the council car parks are free after 4pm – including those who find the community choir an absolute lifeline.” 

Mrs King continued: “It is my strong view that the PR fallout, and collateral damage to small business income and morale, will far outweigh the small revenue gain received by Cornwall Council. 

“There have already been numerous social media threads and comments all over the place from dozens of Truro businesses. Surely there is another way?” 

She suggested putting daytime prices up by £1. 

“Surely this would raise far more revenue – there aren’t masses of people parking in the evenings,” she said.

A spokesperson for Truro Business Improvement District (BID) – which promotes trade in the city – said: “We are very disappointed with the revised proposals, and will be contacting Cornwall Council as we believe the end of free evening parking in Truro will have a very negative impact on the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.” 

He added: “On a positive note, the multi-use tickets, which are available via Just Park and are not well publicised by Cornwall Council, will be reduced from £4 to £2.50 for each 24-hour session for Truro from the end of May.”

Proposals for new parking tariffs in Cornwall Council car parks are to be amended following public consultation. The council’s 135 pay-and-display and pay-on foot car parks will continue to be grouped into three ‘zones’, with Zone A being the busiest areas which are well served by public transport and walking and cycle routes. 

Several car parks will move to a different zone and charges will no longer be introduced between November 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 in car parks which have previously been free in winter.

The price of multi-session tickets will decrease by 5 per cent for Zone A car parks, bringing the cost down to just £2.50 per session/day. Multi-session tickets for Zone B car parks have also been cut, from £3 to £2 per session/day. The new tariffs will be introduced from the end of May.

Other changes include multi-use sessions to be available in all long stay car parks, and alterations to individual car parks: for example, Porthtowan Beach car park will to move to a Zone C in the summer.

Blue badge holders with adapted vehicles or vehicles exempt from car tax will continue to be able to park for free in Cornwall Council car parks.

Cllr Donnithorne said the changes to initial proposals reflected the large number of responses received from Cornwall residents. “Initiatives such as lower bus fares and the improvements we have made to walking and cycling routes provide a cheaper and greener way to travel. I hope that those who can make changes to their journeys, will,” he said. 

“However, I appreciate that this isn’t suitable for all – and at a time when wallets are increasingly stretched, we have considered the needs of those who have no choice but to use our car parks on a regular basis and made changes to the cost of multi-session tickets. 

“Income from car park charges not only helps to maintain car parks but also supports the council’s wider transport service and without that income, we’d need to find other ways to generate that money.”