A housing association is once again trying to make a Helston housing estate car park private.

It is almost a year to the day that Sanctuary Housing started issuing tickets to anyone parking in the Albion Road car park, unless they were a permit holder.

Notices placed on the side of one of the adjacent houses stated that the area next to the play equipment was “private land” and any vehicle not displaying an authorised permit would be issued with a £100 parking charge notice (reduced to £60 if settled within 14 days).

The company hired Armtrac Security Company to carry out enforcement, before the tickets were eventually overturned when Cornwall Council’s highways department found that, although Sanctuary owns the land, the signs were “not permissible” due to this area forming part of the highway.

Now Sanctuary has formally asked Cornwall Council for a "stopping up order", which would stop the land being part of the highway and allow the association to make the car park private.

Cornwall Councillor for the area, Andrew Wallis, has been asked for his views as part of this process and is now appealing to residents of Bulwark and Albion Road to contact him by emailing awallis@cornwall.gov.uk with their thoughts.

He said: "Like last time, I have objected to the proposed changes because losing such a public large car park will add to the parking issues in this area. I would also be very concerned with the use of a private car park enforcement company to make sure the rules are enforced."

Mr Wallis said all comments must be with Cornwall Council by Wednesday, February 22 and warned: "If there is a limited response, then it might be harder to resist the changes."

Some residents of that area have already taken to Facebook to share their concerns.

Sarah Wright, who lives at nearby Gwelmeneth, wrote: "It's horrendous trying to find a parking space even when I get home from work between 4.30pm and 6pm. There is just not enough space as it is. Please, please stop this or the council will need to make more parking somewhere in that estate."

Joanna Morley believed Sanctuary was "trying to find a way of [making] more income," adding: "Only certain houses are owned by them and I do not believe they should have any specific ownership rights as there is a 'public' park next to it; it makes it very unfair."

A Sanctuary spokesperson said: "We have been in discussions with the local authority to better clarify responsibility for the area, and a few months ago we were asked to carry out repairs to the wall surrounding the carpark. By submitting the stopping up order we hope to finalise the boundaries and confirm responsibilities to prevent any further confusion."

The final decision will be made by Cornwall Council as the highway authority.