Updated plans for railway station area to go on display

Businesses and residents are invited to view updated proposals for roads and parking around Newquay railway station today.

Cormac is hosting the engagement event to gather feedback on the Mid Cornwall Metro Active Travel Project.

Earlier this year, several businesses raised concerns about plans to remove parking bays on Cliff Road to make space for a cycle lane. Concerns were also raised about proposed loading bays on the main carriageway, with warnings of potential travel disruption during the peak summer season.

Louis Gardner, the Cornwall Councillor for Newquay Central and Pentire, acknowledges that people were worried about the loss of parking. He explains that where some spaces will be removed, new ones will be created on adjacent streets and in the railway station car park. He says, "the designers have listened to people's concerns and have done everything they possibly can to maximize both on-street and car parking in that area."

Earlier this year businesses put forward an alternative route for cyclists, which would have allowed the parking bays to remain on Cliff Road. At the time, Dirk Parker from K2 Gym told Radio Newquay that the current parking is a "lifeblood" to nearby businesses: "We've looked heavily at the parking, the big one being the impact assessment done by Cornwall Council. Over the course of two days, they monitored 760 cars coming and going on the Cliff Road spaces. We thought that was incredible. That's way higher than we thought and we think that equates to over 1,000 people. So that's 1,000 people using Cliff Road parking every two days, those people using our businesses, using our services – and we want to retain them," he said.

Newquay Business Improvement District is urging businesses with strong views to attend the event and comment on the plans.

The consultation runs from 10:30 to 6:30 at the Griffin Pub.

PRESS PLAY to listen to our interview with Councillor Gardner...