Cornwall businesses say they won't survive 'triple whammy' on busy road

Businesses on one of the busiest roads in mid Cornwall say a “perfect storm” of current and future works is a triple whammy which could mean several of them going to the wall.

We visited several traders along Commercial Road in Penryn this week who are currently being affected by major roadworks carried out by South West Water (SWW) to lay an essential sewer pipe. Everyone we spoke to said business had been severely impacted as a result of temporary traffic lights and queues. Some staff had been laid off while others have had their hours reduced due to the drop in trade.

However, the businesses have concerns that “streetscape” works, including cycleways and new pedestrian routes, as part of the Mid Cornwall Metro railway scheme, and planning permission to place pods for homeless people on a busy town car park will lead to the loss of substantial parking spaces and devastate businesses even further, with some saying they won’t survive.

Around 150 businesses on Commercial Road itself – 300, if including other traders leading from the road – say these works would be the final straw at a time when they are already struggling due to the post-Covid cost of living crisis.

Many of the traders we spoke to aim to make their feelings known at a business consultation meeting with Cornwall Council at Falmouth University today (Thursday, February 29).

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As well as the loss of around 30 spaces in Commercial Road car park to make way for the homeless pods, nearby Permarin car park will soon revert from being free to paid-for, and the proposed “streetscape” works could lead to the loss of “vital” parking spaces in front of many of the shops, restaurants and maritime businesses on the busy thoroughfare.

Those we spoke to said all of this combined could kill the commercial heart of Commercial Road.

Peter Williams, owner of Top Gear electric bike shop and landlord of neighbouring Bango Kitchen

“The really big one is the way the pods have been railroaded against everybody’s wishes, including the parish council and local traders. It will mean the loss of 30 parking spaces that were clearly being regularly used. The effect that’s going to have on local businesses is disgusting really. It should be illegal.

“It’s a recipe for disaster – there is a limit to how long a lot of us will survive. The SWW roadworks is a relatively short-term thing, but no work was carried out for three weeks. Everything was put in place to divert everybody, which has devastated businesses very effectively, but we have to bite the bullet as this sewer has got to be put in. But when you haven’t got anybody working on it, it’s obscene.”

He said if the parking spaces were lost in front of the business “we will be shutting up shop. They wouldn’t be able to get anyone else in those premises, because we are dependent on those spaces”.

James Ward, who works in Top Gear

James Ward from Top Gear electric bike shop

“Since the work by South West Water has started business has been over 50 per cent down. I have friends who work in shops along here that have been so badly affected their hours have been reduced to one day a week.” He said the possible loss of the shop’s parking spaces would have a massive impact on trade.

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Nick Archer, co-owner of award-winning Asian restaurant Bango Kitchen

Nick said the SWW work was essential for Penryn but, as a result, turnover is down by between 20 and 30 per cent, particularly at lunchtime due to the queuing traffic.

“With regard to the changes proposed to the road generally, we got told that the parking in front of our building will go as part of the project which is far from ideal. For Penryn as a whole any further reduction in parking is also far from ideal, but the road is slow, extremely busy and I’d imagine high in pollution levels so addressing those issues would be welcome. We’re hoping a better balance on the parking can be found than the, roughly, half of all spaces being removed as part of the proposal.”

A vital sewage pipe is being laid through Penryn

Colin Fairhurst, former owner of Seaways Diving

“There are 300 businesses around here saying ‘no’. This is a thriving, functional commercial business on Commercial Road and they want to make it pedestrianised. It’s ridiculous.”

Brendan Rowe, current owner of Seaways Diving

Brendan Rowe recently became the new owner of Seaways Diving but fears for the future of the business

Brendan, who took over the business last April, said: “I’m really worried about the plans to get rid of the parking spaces to be honest.”

He said the business relies on people parking outside to get gas cylinders and tanks filled – they are one of only four or five businesses in Cornwall which fill high-pressure canisters for everything from the diving trade to paintball attractions.

“They can weigh up to 15 kilos – there’s no way you can park elsewhere and walk or cycle to us with something that heavy. In mid-season, we are talking about 300 to 500 cylinders a week. If the plans to pedestrianise this road happen that would be the end of my business here. It’s not going to help that the car park opposite is being made smaller to allow for the homeless pods and free parking is going from the other car park.

“There are plans for trees and seating [in a separate rejuvenation scheme by Penryn Town Council]. That’s all very pretty but it’s not going to help our business. The only people who will sit on those seats are daytime drinkers and down and outs, not that that’s a popular thing to say. I think it will destroy Commercial Road – have you seen how many businesses are here which rely on parking cars?”

John Smith, manager of Christies Furniture

John Smith, manager of Christies Furniture

John says footfall has “absolutely” dropped since the SWW works started. Speaking about the further plans for the road, he added: “Lorries park outside the front to deliver or pick up furniture. If they can’t do that, we’re screwed.”

He said he was all for positive improvements to the road “but if it affects my deliveries it cannot happen”. Like so many traders, John stressed the name of the street – “It’s called Commercial Road for a reason.”

Pete Hambrook, owner of Sully’s Framing

Pete Hambrook, second right, owner of Sully’s Framing, pictured with his team

Pete, who has run his business since 1989, said: “They could make it really nice along here – the cafés could have outside seating, but not at the expense of parking. We frame some really big pictures – people can’t cycle here with them, they need to be able to park nearby.”

Like everyone else, he said the SWW work had definitely had an impact on trade. “It’s very frustrating – we are definitely quieter. Once we lose that business, it’s very difficult to get it back.”

Pete pointed out that there are already cycle lanes on Commercial Road so questioned why more were needed.

David Carne, owner of Riggers-UK

David Carne runs Riggers-UK, the oldest business on Commercial Road

David has run his maritime rope business for 50 years and is the oldest trader on the road.

“Cornwall Council have come at us with yet another plan – they should talk to us first and do a little bit of research before they come up with these things.” He said he asked a council officer how many businesses he thought were based on the road. “He said, there must be 50 – I said, if you multiply that by three, you’ll be close. They don’t know how many people they will be affecting.”

He added: “What SWW are doing is p*****g everyone off around – motorists, traders, deliveries. They knew about this work last August but didn’t let us know until two weeks before Christmas. Many of us suggested making Commercial Road one-way, which would have worked – it would have given us more parking and the public more access. But Highways wouldn’t allow it.

“Everybody has noticed business dropping off. SWW says they will give us compensation, but I think it will end up as bugger all. If everybody lost £100 a day – and many will have lost a lot more than that – across 300 businesses over 55 working days, that’s £3.5m. SWW hasn’t got that sort of money.”

Situ Café

The café is based right next to where the majority of the SWW work is taking place. Staff say it has had a massive impact, even leading to workers being laid off with reduced hours for others. “It’s really affected customer accessibility,” said one.

Simon Bailey, owner of Bailey’s Country Store

Simon Bailey is sympathetic to the SWW works but his business has still paid the price

The owner of the popular shop based on Eastwood Road, at the end of Commercial Road, said that business was down by about 20 to 30 per cent, but understands that the South West Water sewage work is vital for the area.

“I’m fully supportive of SWW doing it because of the long-term benefit for us, but in the short-term it’s definitely affecting our business. Are we suffering? Yes, but not as badly as others.”

He said his biggest gripe was the traffic messaging around the work was “too good”. Warnings for drivers to avoid Commercial Road and use the A39 bypass had definitely had a negative effect on trade.

Mr Bailey said he would make a “moral decision” about claiming compensation for loss of trade once the work has finished. “What people can do to help is to carry on supporting the businesses here. I would tell people to think about what time you come to Penryn – come in the middle of the day when queues really aren’t that bad.”

South West Water

A spokesperson for the company said: “We are carrying out essential work on Commercial Road, Penryn, and have temporary traffic lights in place to ensure the safety of our working team and the public throughout the duration of the works, which we aim to complete by the end of March.

“We are displaying signs to show that all businesses on Commercial Road are open as normal and we have ensured that access to those businesses has been maintained. However, we are advising through traffic to avoid the area and use the A39 bypass. We want to thank local residents, businesses and road users for their patience.”

Cornwall Council

A spokesperson for the council said: “The Mid Cornwall Metro scheme is not only a chance to transform rail travel options across central Cornwall, but a catalyst for creating greater opportunities for active travel by walking, cycling and e-bikes. In Penryn it is a chance to invest in the town, making it a safer and more pleasant environment for shoppers, traders and visitors, and improving travel links.

“We want to get it right. Penryn residents and businesses are urged to come to the engagement events, taking place later this week in Penryn, to see the proposed changes for themselves and let us know their thoughts.”

The public events are at The Stannary on the University campus at Tremough on Friday, March 1, from 10am to 5pm, and Temperance Hall, Lower Market Street, Penryn on Saturday, March 2, from 10am to 4pm .

There will also be a survey for feedback about the proposed changes to the streetscape and public realm in Penryn. The survey will be live on the Let’s Talk Cornwall website. Paper copies can be requested by calling 0300 1234 222.