A consultation on what to do with a popular sea front car park has now gone online after concerns were raised that not everybody would be able to make their feelings known.

Falmouth Town Council, along with its partners, is currently carrying out a consultation on what to do with Church Street Car Park which was identified in the adopted neighbourhood plan as being central to the economic and environmental sustainability of the town centre. Last year, Falmouth returned a 93% vote in favour of adopting Falmouth’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Physical consultations are currently taking place at a number of venues around the town but the online consultation has been introduced after concerns raised about people wanting to have their say but not being able to attend. The online consultation can be found at www.church-st-waterfront.com

The website includes background information, FAQs, a copy of the survey which can be completed and submitted online and details of the forthcoming in-person events.

Over the last six months, Falmouth Town Council and its partners have overseen the implementation of initiatives informed by the neighbourhood plan and designed to make Falmouth town centre safer and even more appealing to residents and visitors alike. These initiatives include the priority pedestrianisation of Market Street and exploring the possible different uses afforded by Church St Car Park.

The feedback on both these initiatives has been positive," says the council. "Visitors and residents have reported, for example, feeling safer whilst walking through the centre of town during the day due to the reduced traffic. Reimagining uses for Church St Car Park has also been well received.

"This summer, for example, the waterfront car park was repurposed as a scenic venue for Falmouth Week’s very successful shore side entertainment programme and, more recently, the always popular Oyster Festival. Furthermore, local businesses have been encouraged to use the space to offer customers outdoor dining options, helping to move footfall around the town centre over the summer season, and supporting local hospitality providers affected during the Pandemic."

Falmouth Town Council and its partners on the Place Shaping Board are looking to further explore the potential offered by Church St Car Park and have asked local architects Lavigne Lonsdale and Cornwall-based Inner Circle Consulting to help deliver a new vision and master plan for the car park in the event the car park is devolved to Falmouth Town Council.

They have come up with five options, the fifth option being for residents to offer their own ideas, for the site and among the things being considered is an amphitheatre. All the options can be seen on the consultation website.

The town council is looking to take the site off the current owner's hands, Cornwall Council through devolvement. There are fears that if it is left in the hands of Cornwall Council and not devolved, the site could be sold off for development in the future.

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The next physical consultation takes place on Tuesday, October 25 from 10-4pm at The Princess Pavilion then Wednesday, October 26, 10am-4pm at Art Gallery/Library lobby and Thursday, October 27, 10am-4pm at The Dracena Centre. 

Falmouth’s Place Shaping Board comprises several member partners, including but not limited to, Falmouth Town Council, Falmouth Town Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan team, Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID), Falmouth and Exeter Universities and Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.

The role of the Falmouth Place Shaping Board is to provide co-ordination of development activity within the town; in doing so, helping to improve its sustainability; economic vitality; and the quality of the built and natural environment (recognising Falmouth Town Council and Cornwall Council have declared a climate emergency) – making Falmouth a better place to live, work and visit. Town and Cornwall Councillor Jayne Kirkham chairs the Board.

This project is still in its early phase, with initial scoping work and engagement with the public, businesses, Town and Cornwall Councillors, and Cornwall Council.