Public consultation launched on new plans for Cliff Road in Newquay

A new public consultation has opened on the latest proposals for Cliff Road in Newquay.

Cornwall Council says the updated designs aim to improve safety, accessibility and public spaces as part of the wider Mid Cornwall Metro project.

Over the past 18 months, the council has shared designs with local businesses and residents about proposed changes around Newquay’s Railway Station. Officials say the plans have been revised significantly to reflect the feedback received.

The council says proposals aim to make the roads leading to and around Newquay Railway Station safer for walkers and cyclists, while creating what the council describes as an “attractive gateway” to the town where people want to spend time and visit local shops and businesses.

The consultation, which runs until Friday, 7 November, includes plans to widen footways on Cliff Road, introduce a segregated cycle lane, and add a new pedestrian crossing outside Rebellion. Bus stops will be improved and extended, and loading bays will be relocated.

The council says there will also be more parking spaces for drivers, including a new car park, free between 4pm and 9am and during the winter, and extended free parking at Newquay Railway Station from 20 to 30 minutes. Free on-street parking bays will remain outside Wetherspoons, including three disabled spaces, and on Oakleigh Terrace, allowing parking for up to one hour.

Some local business owners had previously raised concerns about the potential loss of parking bays along Cliff Road and the impact on trade. Newquay BID and traders had suggested an alternative cycle route turning down Edgcumbe Avenue, connecting with Newquay Junior Academy and the existing pathway near the station. They said this option would cost less, link with a local school, and preserve parking spaces.

Following that feedback, the council said a Business Impact Assessment it commissioned found that while on-street parking supports local businesses on Cliff Road, overall footfall “is not heavily dependent” on those spaces.

It added that the proposals would result in a “significant net gain in parking” across the town, which is expected to improve accessibility for both visitors and residents, and make it easier for customers to reach local shops and businesses, including those on Cliff Road.