An ‘openable’ height barrier is to be installed at the entrance of Pendennis Castle car park in a bid to stop unauthorised overnight parking, littering and anti-social behaviour.

An application from English Heritage to install the 2.1m height restrictor at the entrance to the castle car park off Castle Drive was approved by Cornwall Council this week.

English Heritage says the existing timber access gates at the entrance to the car park are currently left open at night as opening and close them each day is not reasonable for the site team.

No overnight parking is allowed in the car park, but it says the current signage has proven ineffective in stopping larger vehicles entering the car park for this purpose.

Falmouth Packet: A camper van parked over a number of parking spacesA camper van parked over a number of parking spaces (Image: English Heritage/Cornwall Planning)

“An openable height restrictor to the height of 2.1m is required to enable greater managed control over the car park even when the timber access gates are left open,” English Heritage said in its application.

“Coaches and other larger vehicles authorised by the site team will still be allowed managed access.”

The restrictor will be set back from the timber access gates adjacent Castle Drive, allowing time for motorists to see the height restrictor after turning in.

Falmouth Packet: An aerial view of the car parkAn aerial view of the car park (Image: Historic England)

“The installation of the openable height restrictor will be of public benefit in providing more complete management of the car parking to Pendennis Castle, lessening the amount of unauthorised overnight parking without incurring higher staff resource to open and close the timber access gates each day,” English Heritage says.

Falmouth Packet: There have been problems in the past with travellers parking on the grassy part of the siteThere have been problems in the past with travellers parking on the grassy part of the site (Image: Paul Armstrong)

“Unauthorised overnight parking has caused issues such as littering and anti-social behaviour which has affected peoples’ enjoyment of the monument.

Falmouth Packet: An example of how the height barrier could lookAn example of how the height barrier could look (Image: English Heritage)

“In addition, larger vehicles have previously been known to use up multiple car park spaces needed for other visitors to the site.”

English Heritage says the work will have a negligible impact on the character and significance of the site.