Commercial Road car park, Penryn homeless pods work starts

Part of the car park in Commercial Road has been fenced off to install the pods despite concerns over where people will park with the reduction of spaces.

The council is putting six one-bedroom units of accommodation in the Commercial Road car park in Penryn, which would be for single people needing a home.

Part of the Commercial Road car park has been fenced off by workers prior to installing the pods (Image: Paul Armstrong)

The car park will be reduced by 30% to 37 spaces to accommodate the units, according to council plans.

Residents say with six pods being built there will be nowhere enough space to meet demand from people who want to park their cars. They say the car park is always full.

And with 10% of the site needed for disabled parking there will be even less spaces to park.

“It’s crazy where are people going to go? Where are all these cars going to go?,” one local who wished to remain anonymous told the Packet.

“We can only point out that it is absolutely crazy, where are all these people going to go? It’s going to be unsafe parking.

“We’re upset as there are other sites available in Penryn.”

Part of the car park has been sealed off (Image: Paul Armstrong)

According to a Cornwall Council report, Commercial Road Car Park was chosen for the pods because “even at peak times in the peak season a maximum of 30 spaces are occupied at any given point in the day.”

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However this claim is strongly disputed by opponents who say the car park is always full because of the newly flourishing businesses on Commercial Road.

Last August members of the community gathered at the car park to voice opposition to the plans and call for the council to site the units at a more suitable location.

Users say the car park is always full (Image: Paul Armstrong)

In April Penryn Town Council Planning Committee had voted unanimously to object to the proposal.

Town councillors pointed out several empty flats in Penryn and alternative sites that in their opinion were better suited for temporary housing and ripe for development.

However in November last year Cornwall Council’s planning committee voted to approve the application to install the pods by eight to two.

Last year it was revealed that the council was spending £40,000 a day on emergency accommodation, which includes people living in bed and breakfast and budget hotels.