Criticism over ‘lacklustre’ Park & Ride

Newquay’s Mayor has criticised the town’s Park and Ride service, describing it as “lacklustre” and calling for better planning and promotion ahead of next year’s tourist season.

Cornwall Councillor Drew Creek, who represents the Greens, says the current scheme is underused and lacks effective signage and publicity. He is urging Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport to begin preparations for 2026’s service now.

The Park and Ride opened in July on land opposite Hendra Holiday Park, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. It costs £10 for a family to use the facility, but Cllr Creek questions the value of the service compared with parking in town.

He said many visitors are unlikely to use it when they can park in the centre for just 50p more.

Cllr Creek also raised concerns about traffic congestion caused by Park and Ride buses stopping on the main A3059, which he says creates hold-ups on the recently built Strategic Route.

Cornwall Council says each Park and Ride bus has the potential to remove up to 75 cars from the roads. Electronic signage has been installed at Quintrell Downs on the A392 and at Kestle Mill on the A3058, but critics say the service launched with little publicity and remains largely unknown.

Cllr Creek said:

“We are the largest town by population in Cornwall. We bring in significant sums of money to the economy through tourism and that has a strain on our town – on our natural resources but also on our practical resources like GPs. It's about time Cornwall Council put Newquay first.”