National Trust's plans for new car park on ancient West Country woodland sparks fury

Locals are up in arms over the National Trust's contentious plans to construct a new 225-space car park within an ancient woodland in the West Country. The plans for the site next to the historic Grade II listed Trelissick House and gardens, are set to be debated by Cornwall Council's planning committee on Tuesday (May 7).

The proposal has sparked fears of "chaos" and an unsightly blot on the landscape, with objections coming from neighbours including the King Harry Ferry and Cornwall Ferries Ltd, operators of regular boat services to Trelissick.

Spanning around 255 hectares of gardens, parkland, woodlands, farmland, and shoreline near Feock, between Truro and Falmouth, the Trelissick estate is experiencing a surge in visitors. To accommodate this growth, the National Trust aims to build a new car park, reconfigure the existing main car park, introduce a crossing point on the nearby road, extend the 30mph speed limit zone, and implement junction changes along with traffic calming measures.

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Following revisions to the initial plan, the number of parking spaces in the proposed northern car park has been reduced from 257 to 225, and in the current main car park from 333 to 312. These changes form part of a broader initiative that includes the removal of parking near a listed walled kitchen garden, barn, and water tower, with plans for restoration thereafter.

The National Trust has assured that tree planting would separate the parking bays, and additional trees and shrubs would be planted around the perimeter of the new car park, reports Cornwall Live.

According to a statement from the Trust, they've asserted that: "The car park has grown incrementally and is now unsafe, causes queuing on the highway and has insufficient capacity for the growing visitor numbers. Trelissick is at a point in its history where 'do nothing' is no longer an option."

Local residents voiced their apprehensions regarding this issue with over 100 comments left on the council's planning website expressing concerns about losing ancient woodland and orchard, road safety implications, increased journey times due to potential traffic jams, lack of support for eco-transport options, and fears the car park would be a blight on the landscape.

David Stoyle, chairman of King Harry Ferry had strong words about the situation, he said: "Despite the more than 110 objections, the National Trust are pushing ahead with the planning application to build the car park and change the road layout to include an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing across the busy road to the King Harry Ferry."

He went on to add: "The traffic simulation, recently carried out by the National Trust to support the planning application, shows that the proposed crossing will add a four-minute delay to traffic in both directions. This will impact local residents, tourism on the Roseland and emergency services who regularly use the King Harry Ferry." Predicting major disruption as a result, he asserted it would cause "chaos".

Enterprise Boats, a ferry service run by Cornwall Ferries Ltd, offers regular trips to Trelissick for seven months each year. The company has expressed its disappointment over not being consulted on the travel strategy by the National Trust, citing a "through lack of engagement from the National Trust".

The ferry operator is particularly concerned about the "lack of consideration" for greener transport options that could enhance access to Trelissick, such as buses, cycles, and passenger ferries. These alternatives could potentially negate the need for a new car park, which is planned to be built over an ancient orchard.

Tim Smithies, the chairman of Cornwall Ferries, commented on the impact of the proposed car park development: "The proposed road crossing as part of the car park development will impact our community by imposing delays on local commuters, traders and visitors using the King Harry Ferry who want to travel between the Roseland and Feock as well as access the ferries," he said.

He added: "Rather than engaging with green transport, the National Trust has so far focused on promoting the proposed parallel development of the walled garden. However, the intention to develop the car park has no bearing on the plans to develop those walled gardens whatsoever. They are outside the car park plans being considered by the council planning committee."

"We call on the National Trust to pull back from the building of the car park and road crossing until it has properly consulted partners on how to align its development plans more on community and green transport rather than its own narrow commercial interests which will cause detrimental environmental damage."

Meanwhile, Cornwall Council's tree officer showed concern over potential "significant tree losses", but appreciated revised designs aiming to minimise the number of trees removed. The council's highways officer didn't object to the plan, whilst Cornwall's area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) unit raised worries that parts of the proposal could have "unwelcome effects" on the landscape.

The Gardens Trust said: "As custodians of our national heritage, in our opinion, the National Trust has a responsibility to work towards a solution which preserves the unique significance and setting of Trelissick as opposed to the prioritisation of ever greater visitor numbers."

Feock Parish Council, while supportive of the Trust's efforts to enhance the estate for visitors, has lodged an objection to the proposed plans citing "significant reservations about road safety in the area and the absence of an integrated plan for access to Trelissick by foot, cycle, car, bus or boat. We would wish to see improvements in this area including new pathways for pedestrians and cyclists". The council also raised concerns regarding the potential impact of increased traffic on the King Harry Ferry's operations.

Similarly, Kea Parish Council has voiced opposition to the proposal, arguing that it could negatively affect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and be visible from nearby footpaths.

In response, a National Trust spokesperson explained: "The new car park at Trelissick has been carefully considered in consultation with Cornwall Council, local parish council, neighbours, partners and businesses for a long time, and is part of a wider project to ensure that Trelissick has a sustainable future and can continue to cater for its increasing numbers of visitors. It will not be built on the site of the orchard, but on land outside of the Grade II* listed Park and Garden, to improve access to the northern parts of the estate and the wider countryside."

"The new parking site will help improve Trelissick's green travel opportunities through the inclusion of 10 EV charging points, a dedicated bus stop, coach parking bays, a new cycle route and multiple cycle parking racks. In addition, we are part of a pilot scheme with Good Journey who will create a bespoke alternative transport plan for Trelissick showcasing the many ways of accessing the estate through non-car options."

"To ensure safe access to the entire Trelissick estate for everyone, we have worked with highways experts to develop plans for a crossing point from the new car park, which will be staffed at peak times to aid with visitor and vehicle flow if needed. Traffic surveys we have conducted show that traffic flow will be very marginally affected by this crossing at peak times only."

Cornwall Council's central sub-area planning department will make a decision on the application on Tuesday, May 7.