New bike shelters support zero carbon commitment in Newlyn and Penzance

* please click here to view a short film about the bike shelter project

Penzance and Newlyn are building on their well deserved reputation for promoting sustainability and green travel with new bicycle shelters being installed in a number of council owned car parks.

Provided by Penzance’s Town Deal Board through the Accelerator Fund, the new bicycle shelters are designed to complement the aims of the Healthy Streets scheme to promote cycling as a healthy, active and low carbon transport alternative to the car for shorter trips around the town.

The project, developed in partnership with Cornwall Council and supported by CORMAC, will see seven shelters providing 190 new bicycle parking spaces for use by both residents and visitors installed in seven Cornwall Council and one Penzance Council owned car parks.

This is great news for Penzance and Newlyn” said Cornwall Councillor Tim Dwelly. “One of our aims is to help local people who want to walk or cycle to work, shops and leisure activities. We want to make it easy for those who would prefer to leave the car at home.

“Visiting by bike means you can save money (on petrol/parking), help reduce air pollution and get about town much more quickly.

“The new Penzance and Newlyn bike shelters are secure, dry and sheltered and deliberately sited in convenient locations across town.”

The bike shelters represent extra provision across the town for those who wish to use their bikes more often - providing alternative bicycle parking spaces.

Members of the transport group have worked hard to minimise the impact of the project on car parking spaces in the town, with the installation of the covered shelters resulting in a total reduction of just 14 car parking spaces across all seven car parks.

A number of cycle hoops and Sheffield cycle stands (standard bike racks) will also be provided in other locations, including Market Jew Street and Causeway Head.

The full list of shelters includes:

• 40 bike spaces in the Harbour car park
• 40 bike spaces in St Erbyn’s car park
• 40 bike spaces at Wherrytown car park
• 20 spaces at Clarence Street car park
• 20 spaces at Penhalverne car park
• 20 spaces at St Anthony’s car park
• 10 spaces at Wellfields (Penlee) car park
• Cycle hoops andSheffield stands on Market Jew Street
• Sheffield stands in St Peter’s Hill car park
• Sheffield stands in Lower Green Street
• Sheffield stands in Causeway Head

“Research shows that taking part in physical exercise has enormous benefits for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing “ said Cornwall Councillor Thalia Marrington.

“Providing facilities which encourage more people to leave their cars at home for short trips and cycle instead will also help us to meet our target to reduce carbon emissions. Following the recent G7 summit the Government announced plans to make Cornwall the first net zero region of the UK. We want Penzance and Newlyn to lead the way in meeting this target”.

The installation of the new bicycle shelters is one of a number of schemes which are already being delivered to support the town’s commitment to promoting green and active travel.

New walking and cycling links are being provided across Penzance and Newlyn, with plans also being developed to use additional funding from the Town Deal to deliver new bike hub facilities at key locations during the next few years.

Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: “I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to all those involved in delivering this initiative. It is this community based contribution to reducing our carbon footprint while adding value to our aspirations for health and wellbeing that deserves huge praise.”

Work is also taking place to finalise the plans for the second phase of the Healthy Streets scheme.

Following detailed analysis of the responses to the consultation which took place earlier this year, highways officers have carried out a series of site visits to key locations within the town during the past few weeks. Information from these visits is now being used to shape the final proposals which are due to be published by the middle of next month.

One of the original proposals which received widespread support during the consultation was for the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in the town centre and the residential areas up to and including Alexandra Road.

As a result of this public support the speed limit will be introduced ahead of the remainder of the scheme. Work is currently taking place to finalise this element of the programme, with the signage due to be introduced within the next few weeks.

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