CORNWALL Council has failed with its current car park pricing policy, a Launceston Chamber of Commerce survey has concluded.

Following an increase in county council owned parking facilities in the spring of 2011, footfall in Launceston dropped dramatically, to the dismay of the town's chamber of commerce. The situation became increasingly worse over the Christmas and new year period, when rises in fuel prices and the precarious state in the national economy became more prominent.

Reports from chamber members indicated that people were visiting the town less often and for shorter periods due to higher costs. These reports included stories of people no longer using local cafés to meet for lunch; meetings being suspended while attendees left to move their cars, taking advantage of the 50p for the first hour charge; and ladies booking shorter hairdressing appointments.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.