The former mayor of Truro said the city is in a “very serious situation” being made by Cornwall Council. Bert Biscoe is urging the local authority to introduce a mitigation plan to boost Truro after a series of highly publicized moves which he says have created “negative messaging for the brand”.
Mr Biscoe, who is a Truro councilor and former Cornwall councillor, has written to current Truro mayor Carol Swain to write “as strongly as possible” to Cornwall council leader Cllr Linda Taylor and its chief executive Kate. Kennally to ask for support and “to defend our economy and those who trade and work in it”.
His strong words came after the upper decks of the Moorfield multi-storey car park managed by Cornwall Council were closed this week, in addition to a £31.50 fine for anyone who parks for more than three hours in the short-term car park on Old Bridge Street, which the council has parked, along with by the council’s decision to lease half the seats in the Fairmantle Street bus park to its own bus company. This has reduced the city’s capacity to adequately accommodate holiday buses and created the risk that thousands of travelers who spend money in Truro will now go elsewhere.
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“We are now in a very serious situation, costs for inner city traders are rising, the effects of inflation on the cost of living continue to squeeze consumer spending and the messages to our customers and investors are increasingly negative and unwelcome,” Mr Biscoe said.
He said of the car park closure: “It has been known for some time that the structural condition of the multi-storey Moorfield needs to be carefully managed.”
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Regarding the £31.50 charge at Old Bridge Street car park, he added: “Due to the current charging mechanisms in place on Old Bridge Street, the claim is that the council imposes a 3 to 24 hour tariff on those who stay (either deliberately or accidentally). ) for more than three hours is unfair – there is no 24-hour charge for using the car park as it is free from midnight to 9am and costs a flat rate of £2.10 for 6pm to midnight.
“Indeed, if Cornwall Council charges an hourly rate (£2.30) for each of the nine hours from 9am to 6pm (£20.70) and adds a flat rate of £2.10 for the evening session, the total is 22 £.80 which is the current alleged 3 to 24 hour tariff which is incorruptible and an overcharge, under the charges approved in the Cornwall Parking Regulations 2024/25 A recent incident where a user refused to pay attracted a lot of publicity, all negative and supportive of Truro of this person who was eventually arrested.’
Mr Biscoe also had strong words about the coach park: “We won’t know the impact of the reduction in capacity until we see what plans are being made this winter for visits to travel agencies etc. The likelihood, based on anecdotal information from informal contact, is that the removal of the city ​​center bases will affect the quality of services, visit timetables and passenger safety and that this is likely to deter companies from visiting Truro in the future.”
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In his letter to the current mayor, he added: “I am writing to ask you to write as strongly as possible to the leader and chief executive of Cornwall Council to demand that a mitigation plan be put in place at Cornwall Council’s expense. , to replace lost capacity, remove punitive penalty tariffs, and support the city in combating the brand of negative press caused by its recent actions. We should not accept attempts to placate us with talk of diverting people to park and ride on a flexible mix of provision.
“I believe that Cornwall Council needs to engage with Truro… and ensure that they recognize the need for fair and adequate parking for both cars and buses and will work swiftly to restore Moorfield to full capacity, remove the Old Bridge fine. Street and charge hourly between 9am and 6pm and will turn around the current situation in the Fairmantle bus park so we can offer our visitor-customers a convenient, safe and efficient service.”
Cornwall Council says it will provide an update on the Moorfield car park following further technical assessments. As for the bus fleet, the local authority said it had contacted all local bus operators to inform them of the changes and initial feedback had been positive. “If there is a demonstrable need, we will consider increasing the number of vacancies,” the spokeswoman added.
The council said the £31.50 charge was introduced at the Old Bridge Street car park because “we have found that a significant number of motorists park there all day and essentially clog up the car park when the purpose is to encourage interchange and diversions to increase footfall to the city center”.
Ms Swain says Mr Biscoe’s letter will be added to the agenda for Truro City Council’s next full meeting on June 24 as correspondence, so all 24 city councilors have an equal opportunity to determine the best course of action.