SALTASH wants a 'free parking on Saturdays' scheme based on the proven success of no car park charges in the town in the run-up to last Christmas.

The festive scheme was paid for out of the town's Section 106 money held by Cornwall Council and cost the town council £300 per day.

The December initiative saw a substantial, positive impact on trade, with some estimating it as up to a 100 per cent increase.

STIG (Saltash Town Centre Improvement Group) is hoping for a similar impact on Saturdays if the initiative goes ahead, but says Cornwall Council Car Parks is not fully backing the follow-up scheme and, indeed, has been 'blocking' it.

The group says Cornwall Council agreed to the scheme in principle, then delayed it for several weeks, then refused it, and then agreed but only at an inflated cost of £452, at least 50 per cent higher than at Christmas.

In another twist, the council has now agreed to reduce the daily fee from £452 to £395.

The group said Cornwall Council's justification for quoting £452 per day was largely based on a 73 per cent increase in car parking in Saltash, which has been mainly driven by the previous scheme. The group also maintained that an arbitrary 20 per cent had been charged for supposed losses that free parking on Saturdays would cause on other days.

Punished

STIG chairman Adam Killeya said: 'It is absolutely outrageous. The Christmas scheme, which we forced through against the resistance of Cornwall Car Parks officers, increased both trade and their revenues, and now we are being punished for that success by them whacking up the charges.'

Chairman of Saltash and District Chamber of Commerce Bill Cotton, said: 'Is Cornwall Council interested in helping town centres or not?

'It is a difficult time and we need assistance, not delays, fob-offs and rip-offs.'

Mayor Martin Gee said: 'This is the latest in a long line of examples of Cornwall Council ignoring the needs of Saltash.'

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: 'Car parks are a town centre business and reflect the success of the high street.

'Saltash appears to be doing very well and, indeed, car park income has improved through the winter months compared to 2011.

'The winter period cannot be used to accurately forecast annual income but we have considered the forecast again and we are able to offer STIG £395 per Saturday.

'We appreciate that this figure is above STIG's original budget but suggest it would be good use of Saltash Town Council's Section 106 Funding if the summer Saturdays are as successful as STIG's December campaign.'