FALMOUTH's deputy mayor has made a complaint about the 'massive' open top tourist bus going through the town's pedestrianised zone.

Cllr Coun Kirstie Edwards has complained both to the Department of Transport and to First Bus about the tourist bus that ploughs the town on an hourly basis.

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.

Last month members of Falmouth Town council complained that the service was making a mockery of the pedestrianisation trial, and was 'literally' driving a bus through it.

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Cllr Edwards says she made the compalint as a resident about the massive bus constantly going through town.

"Many of us in council have attempted to find out why the huge double decker bus is allowed to go through town during pedestrian only times.

"It makes little sense that just because the small hopper bus is allowed to do it, the massive bus can also.

"In the last two days I’ve had endless people complaining about it, seen the dangers for myself as people, pushchairs and wheelchairs are crushed together as it passes, particularly near the grapes where the bollard is.

"It’s madness in non-Covid times, but in a busy packed Falmouth town centre, with Covid on the rise, it’s downright dangerous. I’ve also had reports of cameras and hanging baskets getting damaged from business.

"It is well outside my/ our remit to do much about it, but we can all moan at the people miles away that made this decision in the hope that it will be overturned."

She is urging other people who have been upset by it to complain themselves if they have been effected by it.

"I enjoy the circular open top with my kids and have done for years, but there is just no need to send it through town- the old route from the park and ride along the marina road into the Prince Of Wales pier and up Killigrew and around to the Dell area worked very well, with plenty of sights to see before it hit the sea front.

@So if it’s bugging you as much as it’s bugging me, spend a few minutes having a jolly good moan at the people that think they know best about OUR town."

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.”

You can make contact to complain at:

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/make-a-complaint/

Or search department of transport complaints

You can also contact first bus at

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/cornwall/help-and-support