Forced off Falmouth streets: New parking bans - FULL MAP (From Falmouth Packet)

Forced off Falmouth streets: New parking restrictions - FULL INTERACTIVE MAP

7:00am Friday 20th July 2012 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

Parked on double yellow lines.

A slew of new parking bans for roads across Falmouth could cause chaos for beachgoers, park lovers and parents of children at two of the town’s primary schools, it was claimed this week.

The proposed parking restrictions, announced last week by Cornwall Council, would see 18 new “no waiting at any time” zones created, alongside seven less restrictive zones banning seasonal parking, daytime parking or parking overnight.

The extent of these parking bans can be seen on the interactive map BELOW. (Click on any map marker for more details.)

Gyllyngvase Beach - Stracey Road, Queen Mary Road, Boscawen Road

One of the more controversial areas affected by the bans is in the roads surrounding St Michael’s Hotel and Spa near Gyllyngvase Beach.

“What about yellow lines on all residential roads in Falmouth? I tell you what, we could always get plans to use the nice bit of grass next to the tennis courts for a multi-storey.”

Lizzy Mullaly, yellow line objector.

Double yellow lines are earmarked for a 142 yard (130 metre) stretch of the west side of Stracey Road, as well as 80 yards (73 metres) of the south side of Cliff Road around the Queen Mary Road junction.

Queen Mary Road will also be made subject to a summertime parking ban, with no parking at all allowed on its west side between May 1 and September 30 and the east side made subject to an overnight parking ban, with no waiting between 8pm and 8am on any night of the year.

This overnight ban will also be extended to both sides of Boscawen Road, on the far side of Gyllyngvase Beach Car Park, for a 219 yard (200 metre) stretch south of its junction with Spernen Wyn Road.

The culminative effect of these bans will be to force drivers into the car park, which charges £5.80 per day between March 15 and October 31 and is locked from 8pm until 7am every night.

The potential impact on businesses could be substantial, manager of the Gylly Beach Cafe , Mark Agnew said: “I think that will have a massive effect on us because other than the actual car park there’s not many roads around here that offer all year round parking.

“It will definitely be a shame, because directly outside the cafe you can’t park in season anyway. The other side roads are just generally used by residents so for people coming down here – it’s just ridiculous.

“I park on Queen Mary Road and for myself and other residents who don’t have a car parking space I’m sure it’s going to be a real pain.”

Rift in the residents' association

The proposals have also caused a rift in the Falmouth Bay Residents’ Association according to one resident of Boscawen Road, who did not want to be named.

She said: “We feel it's a very undemocratic proposal. How dare they try to stop people using those roads?

“I think a lot of people in Falmouth are really incensed about it because it's something the whole of Falmouth should be able to use.”

She set up a campaign group on social networking website Facebook called “Falmouth Against Yellow Lines,” which points the finger at bay area residents for the proposals and claims they are effectively trying to “gate off” the roads around Gyllyngvase Beach and Boscawen Fields.

Posting on the group, Peter Osman said: “Self interest has always been of great importance to the wealthy. Maybe only shiny new cars can park in front of their properties!"

Lizzy Mullaly added: “What about yellow lines on all residential roads in Falmouth? I tell you what, we could always get plans to use the nice bit of grass next to the tennis courts for a multi-storey.”

This group has since been closed.

Ella Richards, chair of the residents’ association, confirmed that the issue of parked cars on both sides of Stracey Road and campervans staying overnight near the Queen Mary Gardens have been ongoing concerns for local residents.

She said: “It transpires that meetings have been held with Cornwall Council’s highways department in support of residents seeking a solution to the issue of overnight sleeping in camper vans in the area. 

“A proposal was put forward to place yellow lines on Queen Mary Road and the bottom end of Boscawen Road with signs restricting overnight parking.

“The proposal also included double yellow lines along one side of Stracey Road.  These meetings have involved those directly concerned with the issues raised.”

Falmouth town councillor Diana Merrett, who represents the Arwenack ward including the area in question, said: “The people who have applied to have these double yellow lines have every right to, because they have had no end of problems.

“This is an outcry that has been going on for months and months and months.

“We need them desperately, but we also need Cornwall Council to reduce the car parking charges. The prices of the car parks are ridiculous.

“I don’t agree with workers being charged the earth to work in the town. They pay enough council tax,” she added.

Cornwall councillor for this area, town mayor Geoffrey Evans, was unavailable for comment.

Kimberley Park - Park Terrace and Park Crescent

At Kimberley Park, proposed parking restrictions along the entire fence line of Park Terrace and Park Crescent will prevent cars stopping there between 9am and 6pm every day other than Sunday.

Janey Davis, from the Kimberely Park Association , said there were issues for and against such a proposal.

She said: “There’s a problem with parking and it can be quite restrictive for large vehicles going through there – especially fire engines.

“My concern, however, is they are going to see people speed up on that road if they remove the parking and with the recent improvements to the play area we have a lot of young children around.

“It’s a double-edged sword really because there are concerns about the amount of cars and restricted access but people will struggle to park I think and if they do take away the parking then people will speed up and I think that’s something they have to bear in mind.”

St Mary's and St Francis Primary Schools - Longfield, Bickland Water Road, Mongleath Road

The parking restrictions will also hit parents of children at St Francis and St Mary’s primary schools, which sit within a couple of hundred yards of each other near to the busy Bickland Water Road.

Here the council plans to create double yellow lines around the junctions of Longfield, Mongleath Road and Pit Meadow as well as banning weekday parking, between the hours of 8am and 5pm, around the junction of Mongleath and Bickland Water roads.

Claire Fortey, head teacher of St Francis School on Longfield, welcomed the proposals - explaining that an unrelated focus group aimed at improving pedestrian safety had just been set up by the two primary schools.

She said: “The group is not linked to the proposed change. That has happened as a coincidence.

“It’s only just started, we have had a couple of meetings and we are just trying to ensure that we focus on improving pedestrian safety around the schools.

“Coincidentally we learned that there has been some parking restrictions proposed, which we support because it will improve visibility and safety for pedestrians.

“But we also have asked the council to bear in mind that a safe crossing area needs to be identified for Mongleath Road.”

Jacqui Scarborough, head teacher at St Mary’s school on Mongleath Road, said: “My personal opinion is obviously something needs to be done but my only concern with the double yellow lines around the Longfield area would be that it would push more traffic nearer to St Mary’s.

“But we share the concerns of St Francis about the safety of our children and the two schools are working very closely together.”

Comments or objections

Any comments or objections can be sent to CORMAC Reception, Western Group Centre, Radnor Road, Scorrier, Redruth, TR16 5EH no later than August 3.

Alternatively, Packet readers can respond to the proposals online by visiting www.cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult .

Quote reference CO6341/LMS in all correspondence.