EXTENDING the Park and Ride operating hours and limited free parking after 4pm are options under consideration to improve parking provision in Truro city centre, following a meeting between business owners and Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for transport.

City business owners met Cllr Dan Rogerson on Wednesday [January 28] to discuss the loss of a third of Truro’s car parking spaces in central Truro following the redevelopment of the Pydar site and the closure of the upper storeys of Moorfield for safety reasons.

Around 24 businesses from various sectors joined representatives from Truro City Council and Cornwall Council to make their case to Cllr Rogerson. They shared customer feedback that reduced capacity made it more difficult to park in Truro over Christmas.

As well as discussing the future of Moorfield car park, those present explored options including the expansion of the Park and Ride operating hours to suit Truro employees who need to park for the whole day, freeing up city-centre spaces for shoppers.

An increased provision of short-term on-street parking was also floated, along with a partial reinstatement of the much-missed free parking after 4pm, which other Cornish towns have retained. This would apply to selected lesser-used sites such as Moresk and Edward Street.

Cllr Rogerson told the Voice he wanted to “test the water” regarding whether Moorfield’s load-bearing capacity should be confirmed before going ahead with demolition. “The majority view was, ‘please take it down’ and have a surface car park with more spaces,” he said.

“A programme is being developed to do that while ensuring the existing spaces are lost for the least amount of time. It will have to go into the capital programme for repairs and buildings, and we’ll have to make a case for it and wait for approval.”

He added: “Truro is Cornwall’s commercial centre and the home of lots of other services, both locally and across Cornwall. We have to deal with the situation based on decisions made in the past, and in terms of Moorfield car park based on safety advice. We have to do it, and we have to make the best of it.

“We also have to get it right by creating more opportunities where we can, making the Park and Ride more attractive, making best use of spaces and applying the best management in terms of short- and long-stay to encourage footfall.”

Alun Jones, manager of Truro Business Improvement District (BID), said: “It was reassuring to hear Cllr Rogerson confirm that Cornwall Council is keen to find a solution to Moorfield car park. From the point of view of Truro businesses, the sooner the better – those present asked for the situation to be treated as a matter of urgency.”

Cllr Bert Biscoe, who was not at the meeting, said: “Moorfield car park is a critical piece of transport and trading infrastructure. We need to know what its future is, and we need to be certain the site will remain a car park. Having one in that location is absolutely essential.”