CORNWALL Council has begun the detailed conversations promised with residents and shopkeepers in seven towns about the proposals for new residents’ parking schemes, of which includes Bude.

In all seven of these towns, Bude, Falmouth and Penryn, Newquay, Penzance and Newlyn, St Ives, Truro and Wadebridge, maps are now being published to set out exactly which streets are inside the possible new Residents’ Parking Zones.

This initiative is a response to feedback from a survey carried out earlier in the year, aiming to support residents parking near their homes with a £50 annual parking permit.

Every household in each of those zones is getting a letter alerting them to the schemes, and asking for their views.

The council is also writing to residents in neighbouring streets, who might also be impacted if a scheme is being introduced nearby, as cars are displaced, and asking them how they feel too and if they would also like to be included in a larger scheme.

All seven of these detailed proposals have been drawn up based on evidence showing there is a significant pressure on parking in each area, with residents routinely finding it hard to park near their homes, particularly during the daytime.

In four of the towns, Falmouth and Penryn, Newquay, Penzance and Truro, there are also separate proposals for new town centre on-street pay and display schemes, which have been proposed due to extensive evidence being gathered regarding traffic problems in these areas.

Speaking of both proposals, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for transport, Cllr Bert Biscoe, said: “We’ve listened to what people have told us in our surveys earlier this year. As a result, we are now going to consult on proposals for residents’ parking schemes in the seven towns. By changing the way we finance the overall scheme, we’re able to reduce the price of parking permits in Residents’ Parking Zones to £50 (second permits will be £75).

“Residents and businesses have also told us via the initial survey about town centre parking difficulties. In response, we want to ask what people think about some proposals in four towns to create extra town centre on-street parking spaces, and to encourage shorter stays and more footfall by introducing some on-street pay and display.

“We’ve also listened in particular to small businesses by adding in the super-cheap 15-minute charge for those just quickly popping in.

“We’re publishing detailed maps, staging exhibitions, and writing to residents and businesses in the seven towns.

“We’re also promoting season tickets for our car parks, so that commuters who currently park in residential areas and who would be more displaced by permit schemes can find a more central place to park in future at a much more affordable level than paying day by day. People will be able to pay by monthly direct debit, which will be more flexible.

“Residents and businesses have told us about their parking problems — the detailed schemes being proposed today show how we’ve listened, both to their underlying concerns and stress. Hopefully our new proposals are a good way forward to meet everybody’s needs in a more effective and efficient way. Tell us what you think.”

The proposed plans and a leaflet with more information about Residents’ Parking Zones are available to view at www.cornwall.gov.uk/parkingreview, as well as in libraries and One Stop Shops.

For further details about the pay and display parking proposals, email [email protected] or call 0300 1234 222.