Following a number of concerns which it says have gone un-addressed, the Padstow Town Council says that from the 18 November the bus stop, used as a terminus point for three routes, on its Railway Car Park will no longer be operational for reasons of health and safety and is expected to be removed.
Chairman Councillor O’Keefe commented: “For more than 2 years (since June 2022) we have been raising concerns with Cornwall Council and bus operators Go Cornwall and First Kernow to address a number of health and safety concerns. Anyone who knows the area will have witnessed first hand the increasingly unsafe and unmanageable situation that the bus stop presents.
“Padstow Town Council has been put into an impossible position. Despite being the landowner, the Town Council is not considered a stakeholder and is not consulted on any bus operations from or to the Railway Car Park registered bus stop. There is no conduit through which it can raise concerns and ensure they are factored into bus route decisions. Indeed, we learnt recently that, if submitted within a specific timeframe, most routes are agreed by the Transport [sic] Commissioner without any consultation at all.”
Over the last two years, the Town Council says it has raised concerns directly with bus operators and with Cornwall Council but been unsuccessful in encouraging a collaborative review of the bus stop. Attempts to highlight the safety concerns related to the unique location of the bus stop and the need for changes to its use and management that could improve safety have also failed, the Council says, adding that when a further bus route was registered at the start of the summer, despite the known health and safety issues and adverse impact of existing services, the Town Council felt it was left with no option but to give notice.
At the end of July, the Town Council says it gave Cornwall Council three months’ notice of its intention to remove the bus stop, and in September, the timescale was extended at Cornwall Council’s request to Sunday 17 November.
Councillor O’Keefe added: “Padstow Town Council is committed to see change and improvement to bus infrastructure in our Parish. The status quo cannot continue – it is unsafe and unmanageable.”
The Town Clerk added that: “the Town Council wrote to both the Cabinet Member for Transport and Local Cornwall Councillor outlining that there needs to be a comprehensive review of Padstow and its bus service infrastructure, involving input from, and consultation with, all relevant stakeholders to better service its users and its residents, which has been welcomed by the Local Cornwall Councillor. “Padstow Town Council,” the Clerk said, “is committed to engaging in any conversations that seek such improvement and reaffirmed this in its latest correspondence with Cornwall Council.”
Responding to the news, which will affect services operated by Go Cornwall and First Kernow, a spokesperson for Go Cornwall said: “We are deeply concerned by Padstow Town Council’s decision to evict buses from the Railway Car Park from 18 November. This move, which is disproportionate in its severity, will have a significant impact on thousands of passengers who rely on our services daily. By removing access to the car park, passengers will now face the challenge of walking up and down a steep hill, which will undoubtedly cause unnecessary hardship, particularly for those with mobility issues, the elderly, and families.
“Go Cornwall Bus takes pride in being a responsible bus operator, dedicated to providing safe and reliable transport across the region. I hope people will acknowledge our drivers work in challenging conditions to ensure that our services run smoothly and efficiently, I acknowledge the specific concerns of the Town Council and have indicated my willingness to meet and discuss alternative outcomes; this decision will only add to the difficulties passengers already face in accessing an essential service to the community.
“We remain committed to engaging with Padstow Town Council to find a more reasonable solution that prioritises the needs of the passengers we serve. The removal of a key bus stop in such a vital location will not only inconvenience passengers but may also have wider economic impacts on the town, as it reduces accessibility for visitors. We urge all stakeholders to reconsider this decision and work together to ensure that public transport services can continue to operate effectively in Padstow.”
CBW asked Padstow Town Council to clarify the nature of the unspecified health and safety issues, but no response was received before going to press.
