New parking machines vandalised on first day of use
Three new parking meters installed at a Cornish car park have been vandalised on the first day they were due to operate.
Three new parking meters installed at a Cornish car park, which has been free to use for the past 40 years, have been vandalised on the first day they were due to operate.
Users of the Fairground car park in Helston were left flummoxed this morning (Monday, June 29) when they found the machines had been targeted with foam, which has been sprayed into all of the slots, meaning they cannot be used.
Charging was due to start today after the machines were installed days earlier.
There was controversy earlier this year when Cornwall Council decided to started charging in the historically free car park. A petition with 4,049 responses was received by the council in opposition to charging at the site.
The car park is a key access point for the town’s boating lake, play park, neighbouring café and the popular walking route to Porthleven via the Penrose estate.
Helston residents have already started commenting about the vandalism on social media.
One person wrote: “I can understand the frustration but it just causes more problems. Users still have to pay, either through the app or by phone or risk getting ticketed /fine. There will be some car park users that may well struggle to do that.”
“I don’t condone the behaviour but understand why the machine has been vandalised but who’s going to be paying to put it right? The council tax payers. You won’t beat the system! The money that will go towards repairs has now been taken from something else,” added another.
Charges now apply daily from 9am to 4pm, with the first hour free of charge. Payment for 24 hours is 24 £4.20, while a weekly ticket costs £10.20.
We have contacted Cornwall Council for comment.