Maenporth Beach car park number plate cameras aim to stop campers and troublemakers

Bosses at a popular beach cafe in Cornwall have explained their decision to seek permission to install a license plate camera parking system after receiving backlash. They said cameras and a pay and display machine would stop the problem of people camping overnight and anti-social behaviour, including bonfires on the beach.

James Wright, who owns Maenporth Beach Café on the edge of Falmouth, has applied to Cornwall Council to install a bollard and camera, associated signage and a pay and display machine in the beach car park. Currently, the car park does not have equipment and instead charges a fixed daily rate.

However, Mr Wright said the decision to install the parking camera was necessary to ensure they complied with their lease with Cornwall Council, which prohibits overnight camping and anti-social behaviour. He added that they also regularly face significant problems from people making fires and leaving barbecues behind on the beach or near cafe buildings, which poses a risk to them.

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The Maenporth Beach cafe suffered extensive damage after a fire broke out on its roof in 2019. Mr Wright was working inside the cafe when the lights went out and noticed a burning smell, before stepping outside only to found that the roof was light. . It was described as a “devastating day” for them.

Earlier this year, Mr Wright submitted a similar planning application to install an ANPR system, however it was refused on the grounds that the proposed signage and a four-metre camera and pole would be “incongruous and intrusive urban features in visually, which would fail to conserve or enhance the landscape character and scenic beauty of Cornwall National Landscape (the new name for an AONB)”.

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The new plan removes the 4m ANPR pole for the camera and replaces it with a single bollard camera and a wall-mounted camera on the beach cafe building. There would be a reduction in the number and size of signs – three at each end of the car park and near the exit, with signs likely to be 500mm x 600mm and “appropriately coloured”.

In a statement shared on Facebook, the tenants said: “We run Life’s A Beach Café; the tenancy agreement with the council requires us to prevent overnight parking/camping and anti-social behaviour. As followers of our social media feeds will be aware, there has been an increase in the number of caravans parked overnight at Maenporth Beach From early April to 5th May 2024 we have CCTV footage of at least 12 caravans parked overnight .

“Maenporth Beach also regularly experiences significant problems from people leaving barbecues and from fires on the beach or cafe buildings – sometimes even barbecues buried in the sand. Last season I had to call out the fire brigade to deal with a couple of potentially dangerous fires on the beach and around the cafe area, Falmouth town wardens also attended to help with several cases of anti-social behaviour.”

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He added that there would be no change to the current winter parking arrangements and parking between November and the end of March would remain free. It is the tenants’ hope that the new ANPR system will help keep the beach and cafe safe and clean for all.

The statement continued: “Finally, we would like to address rumors regarding changes to the current winter parking arrangements. We have absolutely no intention of changing the current situation for winter parking: Maenporth Beach parking will remain free for the winter period from November until late. March.

“From the end of March to the end of October there will be a fairer charging system for short-term parking. With the new options customers will be able to pay for one/two/three/four or eight hours of parking instead of having to pay the same flat rate, whether you only need to park for an hour or want to spend the whole day on the beach.

“Our aim is to keep this beautiful place as a safe and clean beach for everyone who loves it as much as we do. If you’d like to speak to us directly, why not pop in for a chat next time you’re at Maenporth Beach?”