FIGURES which point to a dramatic drop in the use of Liskeard's Cornwall Council-owned car parks were revealed at the town's mayor choosing ceremony this week.

Newly installed for the fifth time as mayor, cllr Tony Powell said since April 2010 there had been a drop of 55 per cent in car park ticket sales but revenue was up by 23 per cent. 'These are unacceptable figures,' he said.

Penalty parking tickets issued on the streets of the town were up from 462 in 2009/10 to 1,114 in 2011/12.

'People would rather park in the streets and run the risk of a parking ticket than pay the charges in the car parks,' said the mayor. 'We have to get a balance and look for something to support Liskeard in a more positive way.'

Meanwhile, Mr Powell said that JD Wetherspoon would be exchanging the lease on its new development on the former Taylors site in Barras Street within the next 14 days and that the Aldi supermarket chain had given Vospers notice to leave its site by September 30 so development could begin. Vospers is looking at other sites as it wishes to stay in Liskeard.

And for those calling for a cinema in the area, the mayor said the Tencreek site near the Premier Inn is being looked at by a national name in a positive way.