CAR parking charges in Camelford’s Churchfield car park will not be launched on April 1, due to various consultations that have to be carried out.

Town councillors were given an update on the car park by town clerk, Esther Greig, at the meeting last week.

Ms Greig said in the current bylaw, fines are set at £25, but the council could change this amount if agreed. She noted that in Launceston, in the town council owned multi-storey car park, there is a £10 penalty if paid on the day.

When the council comes up with the final draft, they can change the bylaw, but there will need to be more consultations with the general public, and considering the timescale, new charges will not be implemented on April 1.

“We have a lot more people to consult with,” Ms Greig noted.

The clerk is also waiting on responses regarding various enforcement queries, however, the results are in from a business and residential parking permit survey. A summary sheet will be available at the next car park working group.

An hourly usage survey was also carried out two weeks before Christmas.

l Two disgruntled residents attended the town council meeting to raise their concern over the proposed charges at the town’s Churchfield car park.

The first, James Carr, said: “I have contacted the council, I have not heard anything back and there’s nothing on the agenda with regards to the issue I have raised with the car park. Why?”

He also asked how many other people have raised issues that have not received responses.

Town clerk, Esther Greig offered her apologies to Mr Carr and said his correspondence had been found and was on her to do list, and is in the tray for the next agenda.

Mr Carr said this would be February, to which Ms Greig replied “Two weeks’ time.”

He said: “If you’re proposing to start in April [charges], it doesn’t give a lot of time. I contacted the council at the end of November. I’m a bit disappointed. I’m going to have to come to the next council meeting and probably have to come back again and then we’re hitting March. Could I raise a complaint that it’s been missed considering how high profile it is for me.”

Also speaking in the 15-minute public participation section at the start of the meeting was Richard Boundy, who had a number of questions for the council.

He said he has seen correspondence that suggests a ticket machine is required to allow the town council to enforce the current bylaw. He asked for a reply to this question and asked for the current bylaw to be publicised.

Mr Boundy also claimed to have seen correspondence which suggested the council has already spent £7,000 on this project. He asked the council to confirm if this was a rumour.

He also asked if the council could confirm whether the revenue from fines that will possibly be given will go directly to Cornwall Council and not to town council funds, as if charges do occur, there will possibly be a requirement of an enforcement agency. He also asked whether the cost of the enforcement officer would come out of the town council budget and precept.

Mr Boundy told the council that he has been able to view the car park since the beginning of this month in working hours, and added: “I’ve found there have been numerous car park spaces available, at least 30. It’s been since new year so it can not be Christmas holidays.”

The council is expected to respond to Mr Carr and Mr Boundy’s inquiries at the next town council meeting, on February 1.