A new parking rate of 50p for one hour could be introduced at Trengrouse Way car park in Helston if Cornwall Council heeds the proposal of town councillors.

Helston Town Council submitted its suggestion for the new shorter parking tariff following a request by Bob Biscoe, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member Transport and Waste, for feedback on a new Parking Order for Cornwall.

In his letter, Councillor Biscoe said Cornwall Council’s new budget called for an extra £4.5m in income from parking services over the next four years with a six per cent increase, an additional £867,000, needed next year.

On 28 November, mayor Mike Thomas met with Councillor Biscoe to discuss possible options for the town, and notes on the meeting had since been distributed to members of the town council.

Martin Searle, the town centre regeneration manager, told councillors that three responses had been received by Helston Business Improvement Partnership (HBIP) “that favoured the introduction of a 50p tariff.”

Cornwall Councillor Judith Haycock told the council that such a tariff “would not guarantee an increase in income” and added that “a blanket increase to current charges would mean an increase of 10p to £1.10 for 2 hours – an actual increase of 10 per cent.”

Councillor Martine Knight said that one town centre business had reported “a doubling of income on the first two free-parking Saturdays”, a scheme whereby HBIP pays Cornwall Council for lost parking revenue while providing free town centre parking to entice in shoppers.

The council unanimously passed a resolution to propose several measures, including a tariff of 50p for one hour, retaining the £1 for two hours tariff, retaining the current long stay tariff without a six per cent increase, and season tickets offering quarterly payments of £60 plus an administrative charge.

The proposal also included removing short stay restrictions in designated areas of Trengrouse Way car park to permit long stay and season ticket use, allowing overnight stays by motor caravans with their own toilets, subject to conditions, improving signage to the car park as the ‘town centre car park’, and no seasonal variations or changes to evening and Sunday free parking.