FURIOUS Marazion and Ludgvan residents have slammed Cornwall Council's behaviour over a controversial cycle path overlooking St Michael's Mount.
Two weeks ago, residents and local councillors were shocked to see that work had started on a footpath and cycleway between Marazion and the station car park.
When the plans to replace free parking with a cycle path were first revealed by Cornwall Council, they were strongly opposed by Ludgvan Parish Council, backed by a petition signed by 400 local people and a number of complaints from individuals.
The council decided to go ahead with the scheme but only informed interested parties on Friday, April 12 – just three days before work started to replace the lay-by between the yellow lines and the seawall with a cycle path.
Dave Parker, of Marazion, objected to the proposal and put forward a number of alternative suggestions.
He said: "Throughout the consultation process I feel I was repeatedly fed half-truths, quoted spurious quasi-scientific studies and other red herrings and had key information withheld from me."
Mr Parker said he requested to be present at the council meeting where the decision was made.
"I was promised that as soon as it was arranged I would be informed," he said.
"I was also promised a copy of the report so that I could see if my views had been represented fairly.
"I am still waiting, so broken promises by the council and it would seem that I have been denied the right to fair representation in a period of so-called consultation."
Vice-chairman of the parish council, Nigel Honess, stepped down last week after work started on the £50,000 project.
Ludgvan School secretary, Sarah Blight, said she believed the decision would have a negative impact on tourism.
She said: "Last May, I had the incredible honour of being the (Olympic) torchbearer who ran right on to the beach in front of St Michael's Mount where the world's press was positioned to capture the moment. It was a wonderful time and I felt very proud to be a part of such an occasion.
"However I certainly do not feel proud of a council who make decisions that will deter visitors and would request that they put this situation right by reinstating this parking facility."
A spokeswoman for Cornwall Council said: "Interaction with local communities on schemes forms an important part of the design process and can often improve the quality of our proposals.
"Vital though consultation is however, it will not always be possible to accommodate every view.
"The cycle path consultation revealed mixed feelings about the proposals. However there was strong support from people wanting increased safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Penzance and Marazion."
Work is expected to be completed by the end of May.
