LOCAL SURVEY PAINTS MIXED PICTURE FOR ST AUSTELL

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 10th Sep 2007

A survey of over 100 businesses in St Austell town centre has revealed mixed attitudes to regeneration of the town.

The survey, undertaken by St Austell's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Stephen Gilbert, has shown that the majority of traders in the town centre (75%) support the multi-million pound regeneration plans and more - just under a half (45%) - are optimistic about the outlook for St Austell in 2010 than are negative (25%).

The regeneration project will create new retail spaces; a new state-of-the art four screen cinema, restaurants, cafes and bars as well as 550 new parking spaces and 70 residential units and is expected to bring up to 700 new jobs to the town.

However, the survey, which was carried out after the signing of contracts between the RDA and the developer, also revealed that 96% of businesses are either unhappy or very unhappy with the current state of the town and 94% reported that they do not feel well informed about what is happening.

Stephen Gilbert said: "It's great that the town's traders are optimistic for the future of St Austell but there are still serious concerns and a lot of frustration - particularly about parking and a lack of clear information. It's too early to be opening the champagne - we need to see real progress on giving Cornwall's largest town a centre it can be proud of."

Over 73% of the replies to Stephen Gilbert's survey came from self-employed business people running the many independent shops in the town centre - more than half of whom employ fewer than 3 people.

A massive 97% of local business complained that there is too little car parking for those working and visiting Cornwall's largest town - although 8 out of ten admitted that neither they, or their staff, use the Park & Ride scheme that runs from Polkyth Leisure Centre.

Stephen Gilbert said: "The Park & Ride scheme is seen as both expensive and inconvenient for those who work in the town and local traders don't think that it is well sign-posted to visitors and shoppers. It could be a great resource for St Austell and I will be asking the RDA to take a look and see what can be done to get more people using it."

On parking in the town, Stephen added: "Anyone who lives or works in St Austell knows that parking is difficult. My main concern is that as the regeneration work gets going there could be up to 200 additional workers coming into the town each day. This is good news for local businesses but the RDA and developers need to make sure that the site workers don't take parking places away from shoppers."