Gwithian Beach Car Park Objection

Cornwall Council operates a car park with seasonal charges on Gwithian Towans, opposite Gwithian Beach in Cornwall. For years the car park has been operated by a council employee in a wooden shed, charging from Easter up until the end of September. In 2010, the move was made to pay-and-display machines, accompanied by an increase in charges.

Gwithian Car Park – Charging Periods
(7 days a week incl. Bank Holidays)

Day Session (8am-6pm)
Up to 2 hours £1.70
Up to 4 hours £3.90
Day session (valid to 8pm) £5.30

Night Session (6pm-10pm)
Up to 4 hours £1.40

The new pay-and-display machines do not accept notes and do not give change, an extremely inflexible means of taking payment for such a remote location. Payment via your mobile phone is also offered, however mobile phone signal coverage in the area of the car park is weak for most networks, and non-existent for others.

In addition to the pay-and-display machines, the charging periods were extended from the original 9am-5pm, to 8am-6pm. An evening charging period from 6pm-10pm was also introduced. It is the extended charges that this petition most strongly objects to.

The car park is used by people exclusively as a means of accessing the surrounding Gwithian Towans and Gwithian Beach. There are no other attractions or amenities (other than a couple of cafes that very much depend on the passing trade the car park provides!) Therefore, people are effectively being charged to access the public areas surrounding the car park for leisure activities and personal enjoyment.

Charging £1.40 to park after 6pm is unacceptable. This charge is prohibitive for regular users of the beach and surrounding area. Many people regularly use the beach and surrounding area during this period to walk their dogs, take part in water sports and beach activities or simply to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching the sun setting over St Ives Bay. If someone was to park every day after 6pm for the duration of the charges (181 days), the total charge would be £253.40!

During a time of extreme financial hardship and pressure, effectively taxing local people and holidaymakers to take part in healthy, physical outdoors activities is despicable.