COUNCIL chiefs have been urged to put the brakes on plans to introduce a parking ban at Porth Beach following concerns the scheme would make the beauty spot inaccessible for many people.

Porth Residents Association, residents and businesses are opposing Cornwall Council’s proposal to introduce a restricted parking zone in Beach Road, which would be in place 24 hours a day between March 1 and October 31.

The council wants to bring in the parking restriction due to the congestion chaos that ensured during the summer months after motorists took advantage of the faded and sand covered double yellow lines as well as the lack of civil enforcement officers visiting the area to park in front of the beach illegally.

But Porth Residents Association, residents and businesses believe a blanket parking ban is “not the answer” following concerns it will prevent many people and local organisations from being able to visit the beach, especially the elderly and the disabled. Fears have also been raised the restricted parking zone would detrimentally impact local businesses.

People started parking illegally along the roads around the beach more frequently after the council permanently shut down Porth Beach car park in 2022 due to vehicles getting stuck in the sand.

But Porth Residents Association, Friends of Porth Beach, residents and councillors, who campaigned to keep the car park open, believe there would not have been an issue if the council had continued the twice-yearly regrading regime, which levels out the sand to make the beach safer.

A spokesperson for Porth Residents Association said: “I know this area gets congested in the summer but a blanket ban on parking is not the answer. What is the council trying to do? Make Porth beach inaccessible to residents and tourists?

“Firstly, they will not reinstate the beach car park and now no parking. What about our local businesses?

“What about the community groups who use Porth beach including Lusty Glaze Surf Life Saving club, yoga clubs, sports groups, people who just want a quick dip and walkers. Is the council trying to kill off our lovely unspoilt Porth Beach.”

Porth Resident’s Association is urging the community to have its say on Cornwall Council’s consultation and put forward ideas to solve the parking problems. Many people would like to see time restricted parking bays brought in so that people, especially the elderly and disabled, can park up and enjoy the area.

Resident Anna Michelle said: “A blanket ban for the proposed months is a completely disproportionate measure that fails to reflect the reality of how this road functions, penalises local people, and creates severe accessibility and safety issues.

“Rather than a total ban, the council should adopt a balanced approach. I propose creating three to four designated parking bays directly by the beach access point and an additional six parking bays further along the road where it is widest. Maybe more.

“This would keep the passing bend clear while preserving essential disabled access, supporting local businesses, and ensuring locals are not completely locked out of their own community.”

Hannah Daley, the owner of Gwenna Teahouse in Porth, added: “We have elderly customers who cannot walk far so if the council introduced a parking ban it would have a massive impact on our business.

“It’s not just our business that would lose out as the lifeguards, public toilets and other businesses like the Hole in the Wall business on this side of the beach.

“The parking was out of control in the summer, but I do not see the reason why the council cannot allocate parking bays.

“It also does not help there is still signage directing people down here to park when there is no longer a car park.”

Resident Sarah Eriksson added: “I support change but not a unilateral ban, as there is a lack of consideration for the community, disabled users, and impact of displacing the parking to other roads in the area.

“Why not have similar to other areas of Newquay where there is a maximum one hour stay with marked bays on only one side of the road opposite the beach? Clear signage would also improve matters considerably.

“The council is suggesting sand is obscuring the road markings, which is nonsense as they are supposed to regularly sweep the road and the road markings are over five-years-old.”

More than 100 people have so far given their feedback to the Cornwall Council Porth, Beach Road: Restricted Parking Zone consultation on its Let’s Talk page.

The council stated: “The proposal follows reported concerns about the existing seasonal yellow lines being regularly covered by sand, leading to inappropriate and obstructive parking near the beach access.

“The new restriction will be signed at the entrances to the zone, with repeater signs provided throughout the area. This means there will be no need for road markings (yellow lines), which can become covered by sand and difficult to see.

“This will reduce ongoing maintenance requirements and allow for more robust enforcement. Changing the restriction to operate 24 hours a day will also prevent parking early and late in the day, including overnight, in this popular area during the tourist season.

“Once the consultation ends, we’ll review all feedback and decide how to move forward.”