A BUSINESS leader is prepared to take the gloves off in his fight against the council over its potential plan to build a care home in a Newquay car park.

Newquay BID manager Mark Warren fears Cornwall Council has already made its decision to relocate Penberthy Care Home on Mount Wise to Tregunnel Hill car park without consulting parties the scheme affects.

He believes businesses and community organisations, which could be impacted if further car park spaces are lost, as well as local residents and residents of the care home, should have been consulted at the earliest opportunity.

Mr Warren said: "While we fully recognise the importance of providing high-quality care facilities and supporting vulnerable members of our community, we are deeply concerned by the apparent lack of meaningful consultation before these proposals reached an advanced stage.

“Too often, businesses, residents and community partners find themselves hearing about major decisions after discussions have already taken place and preferred options have already emerged.

“Consultation should begin with those who will be most affected, not after decisions have effectively been made elsewhere.

“That is one of the key frustrations being expressed by businesses across Newquay.

“We should be having these conversations at the beginning of the process, not being invited into them once proposals are already progressing through the system."

Mr Warren’s fears follow Newquay BID meeting with Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for transport, to discuss the care home car park proposals on Monday. June 1.

He stated that while the meeting was “constructive” and “professional,” concerns remain that key decisions may already have been made before meaningful local engagement has taken place.

Mr Warren said: “The meeting was polite and constructive.

“However, I left with the feeling that these proposals may already have progressed much further than local people have been led to believe.

“Whether that is the case or not, it reinforces the need for greater transparency and earlier engagement with the people who will ultimately be affected by these decisions."

The Tregunnel Hill site is already home to temporary homeless accommodation pods.

The latest proposal could result in the loss of additional parking spaces in a town Mr Warren describes as facing “significant parking pressures throughout much of the year.”

Newquay BID is challenging suggestions that parking demand in the town is only an issue during the peak summer season.

Mr Warren said: "One of the arguments being put forward is that these parking spaces are only under pressure for a few months of the year.

“From my own experience, that simply does not reflect the reality on the ground.

“Over the recent May bank holiday weekend, I walked around Tregunnel Hill car park on several occasions and witnessed it operating at full capacity.

“This was not during the height of the summer season, but during what should traditionally be considered a shoulder period.

“Newquay is no longer a town that operates for a few months each year.

“Businesses, Newquay BID, Newquay Town Council and our wider partners have worked incredibly hard to transform Newquay into a thriving year-round destination.

“We are seeing increasing visitor numbers, greater off-season activity and growing demand throughout the calendar year.

“Every parking space removed from the town centre has the potential to impact footfall, accessibility and the ability of local businesses to trade successfully.

“At a time when businesses are already facing significant economic pressures, it is difficult to understand why further reductions in parking provision are being considered without first exploring all alternative options.

“If we are serious about supporting our high streets and building a sustainable year-round economy, then we must ensure that accessibility remains a priority.

“Removing parking spaces from one of the town's key car parks risks undermining much of the work that local businesses and organisations have invested in over recent years."

Cornwall Council argues it has already introduced additional parking spaces at Tolcarne, funded the summer park and ride, and improved rail, walking and cycling links through the Mid Cornwall Metro project to help alleviate parking pressures during the peak season but Mr Warren is not convinced.

Mr Warren said: “Regarding the Tolcarne car park spaces there was no conversation with us that it was also going to be on the back of losing more car parking spaces at Tregunnel.

“People will not jump on park and rides when they don't exist.

“Maybe we should have a permanent parking ride, which was what was discussed many years ago before my time.

“The trains take over an hour. The coach the buses take over an hour. People will drive their cars in and want to park up.

“If they can't park because of a lack of spaces, they're probably going to go elsewhere and then that will impact the town, the business community and everybody else really in Newquay.”

The care home car park issue follows previous concerns raised by businesses regarding out-of-season parking charge changes, where many stakeholders felt consultation occurred too late in the decision-making process.

Newquay MP Noah Law has backed calls for parking considerations to remain central to Newquay's future development.

Mr Law said: "The BID is right to raise these concerns with Cornwall Council.

“As I've made the case numerous times as part of my work to support thriving towns, taking a strategic approach to parking might seem like a dry and banal point, but it can actually make a massive difference to the livelihood of a town like Newquay.

“That means being smart about pricing, enforcement and the availability of parking at key locations to drive footfall, reduce traffic in other areas and ensure that all residents and visitors, but local people in particular, can go about their travels with ease."

A resident of the neighbouring Tregunnel Estate has spoken out against the care home car park proposal.

They have raised concerns about both the loss of parking and the potential impact on the surrounding community.

The resident said: "This proposal feels like a colossal waste of public money.

“Cornwall Council has only recently resurfaced the car park, repainted the bays, installed new height barriers and provided infrastructure for Beryl bikes.

“If parts of the site are now going to be redeveloped, residents are entitled to ask why those investments were made in the first place.

"Parking is already under pressure. As I write, both sides of the car park are practically full. Removing spaces will only make the situation worse for residents, visitors and businesses alike.

"We are also concerned about the impact on neighbouring homes.

“Construction activity would inevitably bring noise, disruption and additional traffic, while any permanent development could affect light and outlook for nearby properties.

"Residents of the Duchy development are expected to follow strict design standards to preserve the character of the area.

“It is reasonable to ask whether Cornwall Council intends to deliver a building that complements the surrounding architecture or whether local people will be expected to accept something completely out of keeping with its surroundings.

"Most importantly, there are numerous vacant and underused buildings throughout Newquay that should be considered before valuable parking spaces are sacrificed. Bringing those buildings back into use could help address care provision needs while also contributing to the regeneration of the town."

Newquay BID believes that the conversation should now focus on ensuring all available options are properly explored before any final decisions are made.

Mr Warren said: "There are alternative opportunities that have previously been presented to the care provider, including sites located away from the town centre," said Mark Warren.

"These options deserve full consideration. There are also vacant and deteriorating buildings within the town that could potentially be brought back into productive use through redevelopment and investment.

“Many local people are questioning why valuable town-centre parking land appears to be the preferred option when there are alternative sites available that could potentially accommodate similar development while also supporting wider regeneration objectives."

Newquay BID is now calling on residents, businesses and community organisations to make their views known so that local concerns can be formally presented to Cornwall Council before any further progress is made.

Mr Warren said: "This is not simply about parking spaces.

"It is about ensuring local voices are heard before decisions are made. Newquay is working hard to build a thriving year-round economy.

“The town centre is already under pressure from rising costs and changing economic conditions, and any proposal that could impact accessibility must be subject to thorough public scrutiny and genuine consultation.

“I would encourage any resident, business owner or member of the community who shares these concerns to contact Noah Law directly.

“The stronger the collective voice from Newquay, the stronger the case for Cornwall Council to pause, listen and properly consider the long-term impacts before any irreversible decisions are made.

“Newquay BID will continue to engage with Cornwall Council, local elected representatives and stakeholders to ensure the interests of businesses, residents and the wider community are properly represented throughout the process.”