Residents who currently park their cars for free overnight in Helston and Porthleven’s car parks are each set to lose out on hundreds of pounds a year in a new pricing shake-up – and they only have until this Friday to complain.

Cornwall Council has launched a 'consultation' on a number of important changes, which began on November 24 and ends this Friday - although no details have been published in either the normal consultation section of its website or under the specific "parking consultations" heading, and many people remain in the dark about the proposals, despite notices being added to parking meters.

Currently it is free to park after 4pm in Cornwall Council run car parks in the two towns, but that is all about to change.

The authority has revealed plans for off-street parking charges that would see the introduction of a £1 fee between 4pm and 11.30pm in the Cattle Market, Tyacke Road and both Tregrouse Way car parks in Helston, and at Kitto’s Field in Porthleven.

While seemingly a small amount at first glance, it will set residents without access to off-street parking, such as those in town centre flats, back by up to £365 a year – potentially raking in tens of thousands of extra pounds for Cornwall Council from this area alone. An evening-only season ticket will be available though, for £150.

It will also hit anyone visiting both area’s restaurants and pubs, and Helston’s cinema, of an evening – as well as those people who pop into one of the town centre shops quickly after work, who will have to pay £1 for potentially just a five or ten minute visit, leading to fears that even more shoppers will be pushed to the out-of-town supermarkets where it is free to park.

Also proposed is an increase in the rates for short-term parking, although a reduction in longer-term parking fees for three and four hours.

While this could encourage people to spend more time in both towns – with fees dropping by as much as 90p in some of the car parks – statistics show that more than 95 per cent of people using Helston’s Trengrouse Way and Cattle Market car parks do so for only one or two hours. In Porthleven the one and two-hour charges equate to nearly 60 per cent of ticket sales, with four and five-hour charges making up only 3.1 per cent of sales.

For one and two-hour parking the charge is set to increase by 10p to 70p for an hour, or £1.50 for two hours (a 20p rise to £1.60 in Porthleven, April to October).

The proposals, put forward by cabinet member for transport Bert Biscoe - who famously does not drive himself - were discussed with some concern at last week’s meeting of Porthleven Town Council and are also on the agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting of Helston Town Council.

Leading the protests at Porthleven was Andrew Wallis, himself a Cornwall councillor and cabinet member, who said: "Because of the design of Porthleven there's limited parking. Therefore, after 4pm until 9am residents can park in car parks and alleviate problems in Fore Street etc.

"My personal view is we strongly object to the £1 after 4pm. I'm afraid it will push cars out to residential areas."

Councillor Mark Berryman agreed that even in the winter there were 12 or 15 cars parked at Kitto's Field, adding: "It's time Bert Biscoe stops seeing cars as a cash cow. Perhaps it's time somebody that actually understands cars was appointed to the job and thinks of working people."

The public only have until this Friday to give their views on the plans, before a recommendation is given to Cornwall Council’s cabinet members.

To have your say visit cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult (you will have to register at the start), email parking@cornwall.gov.uk quoting “2017 Off-Street Parking Orders” or write to Parking Consultation, PO BOX 664, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 9DH with your name address and views, including reasons for them.

See Skipper's reaction on page 18.