Residents have claimed that common sense has gone "out the window" as the free parking in one of the country's most famous seaside destinations will no longer be available free of charge. Readers of Cornwall Live have blasted the proposed removal of 19 free parking bays in Newquay, Cornwall, citing the effect it will have on local businesses. The changes are under consideration as part of the £57m Mid Cornwall Metro (MCM) project, which seeks to improve connections between Newquay and Falmouth/Penryn via St Austell and Truro.

The free parking spots are currently located on Cliff Road. The proposal to remove them is part of plans to make the roads in the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Cornwall Council aims to "create an attractive gateway to the local area where people want to spend time and visit local shops and businesses". However, a business owner, located on the road in question, has launched a petition on behalf of other traders in the area, asking the council to reconsider these plans. The petition has gained more than 600 signatures since it was created.

It reads: "The proposal to remove these vital parking spaces to make way for a cycle lane is threatening the very fabric of our community and the success of our high street. With free parking, customers can easily and safely access the diverse range of stores and services, encouraging local shopping and keeping business revenue within our town."

However, a spokesperson for Cornwall Council said that these plans have been carefully considered after public consultation. "Under the revised proposals, there will be 74 new parking spaces within the vicinity of Cliff Road - 63 will come from changing Tolcarne Coach Car Park to a standard pay-and-display car park," they said in a statement shared with Cornwall Live.

"We are proposing that the car park will be free before 9am and after 5pm, and free during the winter period. There will be a further eight on-street parking spaces on Oakleigh Terrace and three new disabled parking bays on Cliff Road outside Wetherspoons."

They added: "This is the second phase of the scheme which aims to improve access for people walking and cycling along Cliff Road between Edgcumbe Avenue and Oakleigh Terrace and the tram tracks leading to the town centre. It is the missing link of a cross-town path between Barrowfields and Lusty Glaze, and Newquay town centre."

Locals shared their opinions with Cornwall Live, with some blasting the plans. One person said: "One of the many bizarre schemes CC has dreamt up. The loss of these spaces is bound to impact on local businesses on Cliff Road. The country seems to have an obsession with looking after cyclists and providing cycle lanes for them, yet most of them in Newquay still cycle on pavements, with little respect for pedestrians."

Another said: "Shops and the holiday industry needs people, charging for car parking is driving them away! It's just greed, why is it that supermarkets are so busy? No one wants to pay parking fees, it's killing everything everywhere."

A third wrote: "Well, it's considerably cheaper to walk & cycle into town. If you don't fancy paying the car parking fee then jump on a bus! The road is on the main bus route too. Although the council is actually making more parking spaces with this scheme. There are car parks at Aldi, Asda, at the train station and round the back of the police station already. The main reason why people cycle on pavements is because the roads around here are sketchy."

Another said: "I spend a lot of time dodging cyclists on the pavements and I bet that wouldn't change if there was a cycle route. There's lots of businesses there that would lose custom, not to mention the cafes."

"Common sense goes out the window in this country, shops are struggling enough as it is," another shared. "Buying stuff online is annoying at the best of times and waiting for deliveries can be a nightmare. Trying to lug stuff on foot or using a bus and then lugging things from the bus stop or worse still teetering along on a wretched push bike trying to carry your shopping is not a good idea."