Cornwall Council says a bid to pass 28 of its car parks – many of which are currently free to park in – to a private company to start charging will take pressure off the cash-strapped local authority and lead to better management of the assets. However, a new campaign group called Sort It Out, Don’t Sell It Off has been formed to oppose the council’s proposal.
The public are being consulted about the controversial move, but the group says its campaign will continue far beyond the deadline this Thursday (January 9).
In a bid to both save money and grow revenue, the council is proposing to transfer the car parks from its own management to its arm’s length company, Corserv which, in turn, will employ a private enforcement company to oversee new fees and charges. The plan has faced criticism in many of the areas where the car parks are based.
The Sort It Out, Don’t Sell It Off group is urging residents and businesses to speak out during the council’s ongoing consultation, warning that the sell-off will have severe economic, social and environmental impacts on communities across Cornwall.
Campaigners say the move could see key car parks in towns, villages and coastal areas handed to a private operator, with locals concerned that it will result in higher parking fees, reduced access and a loss of control over vital community assets. The group warns that the handover will limit affordable access to beaches, town centres and essential services, harming both residents and local businesses.
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“This isn’t just a financial transaction – it’s about people’s lives and our communities,” said Jessie Joe Jacobs, from the Sort It Out, Don’t Sell It Off campaign. “ Cornwall Council ’s decision to consider handing over these car parks to a private company could be detrimental to local businesses, increase the cost of living in Cornwall and make our towns and beaches less accessible to everyone. Many councils up and down the country would not consider doing this, so why is Cornwall Council?”
Heather Workman, a Newquay resident who has been campaigning around parking improvements in the town for several years, added: “This consultation is happening quietly, without most people knowing what’s at stake. I feel like the council are ignoring our valid concerns and observations, whether we have voiced them through surveys, consultations or direct emails. They really don’t seem to care about residents’ needs and concerns, wanting to just make more money from local people who are already struggling financially in a cost of living crisis.”
The campaign is encouraging all Cornwall residents to participate in the council’s public consultation and voice their opposition to the proposal.
Campaigners are also planning public meetings and awareness-raising events to ensure that as many people as possible are informed about the risks. “We need Cornwall Council to sort out their budget problems without selling off our community assets,” said Ms Jacobs. “Once these car parks are gone, they’re gone for good. We need to act now to protect them for future generations.”
You can visit the campaign group’s Facebook page here and submit your views to Cornwall Council’s consultation here.
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