PROPOSED changes to on-street parking in Truro city centre are being considered to help increase the turnover of spaces and improve access to parking for residents and visitors.

On-street parking is currently available for a set period, with penalty charges in place for drivers who overstay in spaces. Under the proposed changes, the same free period will still be available to allow for access to local shops, short appointments, collecting prescriptions and similar visits. Drivers will then be able to pay for longer stays if they wish to remain in the city centre.

Sessions will need to be registered either online, by phone or at a kerbside machine - even for the initial free period - to allow for better management of parking spaces across the city and help increase turnover of spaces.

All those affected by the changes are invited to comment on the proposals via the council’s Let’s Talk Cornwall website.

Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport, said: “We’ve been aware of issues around parking in Truro, which have worsened after the Moorfield Car Park closure.

“Having spoken with local stakeholders and Truro city councillors, we have designed these proposals to protect the current free parking available for the city centre to ensure we do not impact businesses.

“However, the changes will encourage more turnover of spaces, which will help create more options for drivers looking to visit.”

The multi-storey sections of Moorfield Car Park have been closed since May 2024, when concerns were highlighted during a routine inspection of the structure. Some 236 car parking spaces remain available on the ground floor and external sections of the car park.

Following the administration of NCP, its multi-storey car park in St Austell Street has been acquired by Q-Park and remains open, with 445 spaces.