A CAMPAIGN has been launched to prevent van owners from receiving a £70 parking penalty notice while they enjoy an early morning visit to South Fistral.

An appeal to extend parking hours for vans on Esplanade Road has been started after a number of surfers, dog walkers and people taking part in exercise were reportedly being ‘targeted’ by Cornwall Council's civil enforcement officers.

Cornwall Council introduced the parking restriction between midnight and 9am for vans, campervans and commercial vehicles to stop people sleeping in their vehicles overnight.

However, many people who drive vans and campervans that have parked along Esplanade Road in the morning before 9am to enjoy an activity in the area have found themselves with a parking penalty notice.

They are now calling for the parking restriction to come to an end once there is daylight.

More than 300 people have already signed the petition.

Jamie Crossman, who launched the campaign, said: “South Fistral's Esplanade Road parking rules currently disadvantage van owners who wish to enjoy early morning surfing, walking, or other activities before work.

“The existing policy, aimed at preventing overnight camping, is overly restrictive and inadvertently hinders those who simply want to maximise their use of daylight hours for outdoor leisure activities.

“There are the many local tradesmen and women who are impacted by this, being barred from parking their vans during what could be the most beautiful and productive hours of the day.

“We need to rethink and redesign this policy. What we're asking for in this petition is a simple restructure of the already in place parking restrictions.

“Yes, overnight camping should remain prohibited, but we propose modifying the hours so that van owners may fully utilise daylight hours for their activities. By doing so, we wouldn't just be assisting the many local van owners but also encouraging a healthier, more active lifestyle. Join us in encouraging our community's leadership to adapt more flexible parking rules at South Fistral's Esplanade Road. I would appeal to people to sign the petition.”

Pentire and Newquay Central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny has admitted the restriction put in place to stop overnight camping is “clunky” and called for people to help come up with a better idea.

Cllr Kenny said: “I’m proud that here on Pentire we continue to provide free parking for our local families and our visitors to enjoy South Fistral.

“This is a privilege, not a right, and just about unique in this area of Cornwall (or elsewhere?) where there is no free parking available anywhere near any of our other fabulous beaches.

“But sadly, that there will always be those who want to take advantage to get more than their fair share by using such free parking as a free camp site.

“The nighttime parking restriction was set up, many years ago now, because it had proved impossible to limit the vans camping on Esplanade Road for weeks or months on end by any means other than making that a parking offence.

“With over 60 or so vehicles camping regularly, there was little space for anyone else. And let’s face it, even with the parking restrictions, we still have long-term camping and reported bad behaviour on the road.

“I am sorry the early morning surfers get caught up in this but that has proved to be the only way the restrictions can be enforced.

“And I understand that it is not so convenient to walk from the free unrestricted bays and street parking that is available on Pentire, particularly at that time.

“I’m the first to admit the parking solution is clunky and if anyone can find a better solution that works, I’d be delighted to hear it.”

Anyone who would like to support the campaign can visit www.change.org/p/extend-parking-hours-for-vans-on-esplanade-road-newquay