THE ‘turnaround’ of Launceston was the topic of discussion at a recent meeting — with new proposals for free car parking in the town mooted.

The meeting was organised by Steve Calvert of Bridge Tools, who is the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Mid Cornwall branch treasurer.

He said: “The upper and lower Cattle Market [car parks] are generally empty. It would be great if we could get the council to give us an hour free.

“If you can get people to start using these car parks the council would make more money.”

These are Cornwall Council owned car parks, and drivers are charged to park there from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

He said he wished to see more people using town centre businesses, saying he has seen three close in the six months he has been trading in Launceston.

He suggested two systems — using Parking Eye number plate recognition, or a gated system.

North Cornwall Conservative Parliamentary candidate Scott Mann attended the meeting and took questions from traders.

He said: “One of the most frustrating things for me is to walk around the town centre and hear people say it’s difficult to get customers in the door.

“There are many other towns across North Cornwall that have got a very similar problem. It’s great to see the Chamber of Commerce and FSB being very proactive.

“In 2018 Cornwall Council will have complete control of business rates. I think a lot of supermarkets that have car parks out of town centres should be charged business rates on car parks.”

On Mr Calvert’s ideas for pushing Cornwall Council for an hour’s free car parking using one of the systems he suggested, Mr Mann said: “There will be a new council in May. Any new council should really look at that again. Car parks, some are parish councils’, some town councils’, some still Cornwall Council’s. I think there would have to be a joined up approach so all councils are behind that.

“If the car park is only that full maybe the charges are too high. Looking at reducing charges for that first hour is probably what you need to do.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South Jade Farrington said: “We’ve seen a huge rise in the amount of people using the lower side car park. They are an awful lot cheaper than they were five years ago.”

There were calls from traders for businesses to ensure they are open, with some saying at certain times shops close early and could put off visitors travelling to the town to shop.

Town councillor John Harris said: “If the town is open and vibrant and there are things for people to come and see parking really solves itself.”

Deputy mayor Margaret Young said: “There has been lots of this information we have discussed tonight already researched. What we have got to do is work together as a community to put some clout behind our requests. We all want to make the town a success.”

Mid Cornwall FSB secretary Debra Tarrant introduced the meeting to a new initiative that will soon be starting in Tavistock — the teenage market, which she said aims to get young people or ‘future shoppers’ used to going into town.

Ms Tarrant told the meeting: “There are lots of towns in the UK really struggling with out of town developments, parking.

“Launceston has got an awful lot to offer other towns don’t have to offer — history, energy, independent small businesses, shops and other services. I think people just forget it’s here and that’s a shame.

“If you all work together this can be a turnaround of Launceston.”

Traders at the meeting were invited to share their contact details and fill in a form indicating if they support the free parking and teenage market ideas put forward.