PEOPLE who live in a picturesque village on the edge of the River Fowey are being urged to fight moves to introduce car park charges.

A questionnaire sent to St Veep Parish Council from Cornwall Council has sparked fears.

The local council wants people to register support to keep the free 20-space car park.

Cornwall Council is asking people their view as part of a review of charges. By registering opposition, the parish council hopes to prevent charges.

Councillor Rob Briggs said: "We urge everyone to obtain a copy and to complete it supporting Lerryn car park remaining free and the ownership passing to St Veep Parish Council.

Viability

"This is vital as the economic viability of the shop, the Ship Inn and school, not to mention smaller businesses – all rely on the car park remaining free.

"The school shop and pub are worried that if charges are imposed this might tip the balance. We want to keep the pressure up."

The car park has been used since the 1960s and is mostly owned by Cornwall Council. Last year the parish council requested ownership to be transferred to secure its future as free. However, no decision has been made.

Owner of Lerryn River Stores, Deanna O'Brien said: "If they start charging, people might start parking along the roads and they would be gridlocked in the summer.

"All the mums use the car park when they take their kids to school too. I don't know how they would police it either. People may not want to park to use the shop and end up travelling to use supermarkets – which would be another nail in the coffin for village shops like this. There's strong feeling that people don't want any charges."

The nearest shops to Lerryn are more than three miles away at Lostwithiel.

Parish council chairman Kenneth Hoskin said: "When people come to the village shop for a paper, they are not going to pay for just 10 minutes – the shop will suffer."

The pub also relies on the car park as it does not have one of its own.

Cornwall Council issued the questionnaires last week, but no information has yet been offered about possible hourly parking rates.

Andrew Wallis, chairman of Cornwall Council's parking policy advisory panel, wrote in a covering letter to the parish council: "The six former district councils operated their own parking policies with their own set of charges.

"The parking advisory panel has been asked to develop a new policy on charges which is fair and consistent across the whole of Cornwall.

"Members of the panel have recommended an interim policy which, if agreed by the cabinet, will operate for the next 12 months.

"This gives us the time to develop a new, permanent policy which will come into operation on March 31, 2011.

"It is vital for local residents and the viability of our towns and villages that we get it right.

"We need local people and organisations to give us their views so we can make an informed decision."