E-SCOOTERS will be coming to Newquay in the coming weeks as part of a government-backed trial programme.

Around 50 e-scooters are expected to be introduced across the town for people to rent, which will complement the existing Beryl bike scheme and use the same parking bays already in place.

It follows Cornwall Council introducing an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) to support a rental e-scooter trial in Falmouth and Penryn, Penzance and Truro as well as Newquay.

The trial allows rental e-scooters to be used within defined areas of these towns wherever pedal cycles are currently permitted, which includes roads, cycle lanes and shared-use paths, but not footways.

Cornwall Council and Beryl will be closely monitoring the scheme, which is expected to generate significant usage across the county, with more than 200,000 trips annually forecast across participating towns.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: “We are inviting residents, businesses, visitors and other road users to share their views and experiences of the trial.

“The rental e-scooter trial forms part of a programme approved by the Department for Transport to better understand how e-scooters can be used as part of the transport network.

“The trial provides an opportunity to assess whether rental e-scooters can offer an additional travel option for local journeys, including connections to public transport and other destinations.

“It will also help us understand how e-scooters interact with other road users and what impact they may have on travel patterns within the trial areas.

“Throughout the trial, Cornwall Council will monitor a range of information, including journey data, safety records and other transport-related information.

“At the end of the trial period, we will consider all of the available evidence before deciding whether the arrangements should become permanent, be amended, or be removed.”

People will be able to have their say on the e-scooter trial from July 2.