A TOUR company is quite literally 'driving a bus' through the pedestrianisation trial currently taking place in Falmouth, it was claimed this week.

The Falmouth Coaster open top bus tour, operated by First South West, follows a scenic route around Falmouth taking in the waterside, Pendennis Castle, Falmouth itself and the National Maritime Museum on route. The bus is hourly.

At its first physical full meeting of Falmouth Town Council on Monday night, councillors were told that the bus was making a mockery of the pedestrianisation zone currently in place in the town from the Arwenack to the High Street end of the town.

Cllr John Spargo said: "It's ridiculous, they are completely undermining the trial, it's literally driving a bus through the trial. It's exasperating."

He also raised the issue of cyclists travelling in both directions along the pedestrianised area when it should be one way only.

"If we can't stop cyclists going two ways, it's undermining that as well," he said.

Mayor Steve Eva said the people manning the road closures had no powers and police had gone so there was nobody to stop them from riding both ways.

Town clerk Mark Williams told the meeting that Traffic Regulation Order restricted motorised vehicles between 11am and 4pm.

"There are some exceptions to that and one of those exceptions can be buses if it's passenger route and if a bus company wants to run its own open top bus along the route during the summer. "We've had a discussion with them and said that's not really compatible," he said. "But they've said it's a commercial decision and they are going to continue, but if they get a weight of public opinion against it then they will reconsider but until then they we are going to run it."

He said he didn't think there was anything the council could do about it as the order speaks about cars and motorcycles and certain deliveries at a certain time. Buses, taxies and emergency vehicles are exempt.

"We made representations," he said. "If people say my walk through Falmouth was spoiled by this double decker bus then that may help."

A spokesman for First South West said: “The Falmouth Coaster is registered through the statutory process in compliance with Cornwall Council’s traffic regulation orders and follows the same route taken through the town by Transport for Cornwall services.

"It’s already proved extremely popular with visitors and local residents alike and we are delighted to be able to bring an additional service to help the local economy recover from the effects of the pandemic.”

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