THE leader of Cornwall Council has told Launceston Town Council he hopes charges in the local authority-run car parks there will ‘stay the same’, but stressed any proposed changes to tariffs would be consulted on.

Speaking at the town council meeting on October 16, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin Adam Paynter updated councillors on the latest news regarding the local authority’s review of parking charges.

Cornwall Council is considering introducing a ‘zoning’ approach to parking charges in its car parks, and recently made headlines in local media when a table published on its website called ‘proposed new charges’ suggested the cost for parking could jump five times higher in some places.

For example, it suggested Widemouth Bay’s car park could be subject to a 2,140% increase to park for a day in the winter — from the current 50p to £11.20, and annual car parking for that car park in both summer and winter could go up from £298 to £1,120.

But Cornwall Council issued a statement to say this table was ‘incorrectly titled’.

Cllr Paynter told Launceston Town Council: “There’s been a bit of a mistake with a document tabled that had been in the local media and big changes to tariffs but that went out really by mistake. It was only proposed by a few officers in the parking service and hadn’t been widely shared,” he added.

“There may be changes in the next financial year. We will be going out to consult on any of the changes.”

He explained that day the local authority had a scrutiny committee meeting about car parking. Explaining the council is looking at changing its system for car parking, he added: “I think a lot of good work has been done on the positive parking review.

“There’s a number of things going on in car parking in terms of looking to pay on foot or on exit. It’s a bit annoying when you pay for one or two hours then have to run to the car because your ticket’s running out.”

He said the council is hoping for 12 of its car parks to move to a new pay system ‘certainly by the summer’, if not sooner, and then the council would look to roll that out across the county, where possible.

For the time being though, he said: “It doesn’t look like there will be major changes in Launceston’s car parks,” — apart from any charge increases due to inflation, and said this will be the same for parking permits too.

“Hopefully charges will stay the same — we will have the free after 4 o’clock time.”

Cllr Rob Tremain enquired about the £1 all day parking on a Saturday, which is currently available in the Upper Cattle Market and Walkhouse car parks.

Cllr Paynter said he ‘certainly hoped’ this would continue, adding: “It’s something we would continue to push for.

“The after 4pm works quite well and I think Saturday charges work quite well and the permit is certainly better used now with the current charges than as they were.”

Cllr Tremain added: “The £1 parking has certainly helped our town’s economy.”