Council confirms plans to go cashless at almost 100 popular car parks within weeks

Motorists across Cornwall will soon no longer be able to pay with cash for their parking as the council introduces sweeping measures to car parks.

Cornwall Council has confirmed that payment machines in several council-run car parks across the region will stop accepting cash from Saturday, August 1, 2026.

It stated that 90 per cent of transactions are already made using car payments, either through the JustPark app or the Buzzpay website.

Cornwall Council estimates that the move will save around £80,000 a year in administration costs for the local authority.

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Motorists can still pay for their parking at the pay and display machine using a bank card, contactless payment or mobile phone.

Dan Rogerson, cabinet member for transport at Cornwall Council, explained that it costs around £100,000 to collect, transport and process cash from 138 council car parks.

He suggested that the money could be "far better spent" on maintaining car parks and the wider highway network across Cornwall.

Drivers who prefer to pay with cash will continue to have the option, although this will only be possible at certain council-run car parks.

Coin payments will continue to be accepted in one car park in each community, with 43 car parks across the region earmarked for this.

Mr Rogerson, who represents Bodmin St Mary's and St Leonard for the Liberal Democrats, said that 12 per cent of drivers continue to use cash to pay for their parking.

He added: "We've reviewed cash usage levels, accessibility and location to ensure that drivers who want to pay by cash can continue to do so in each town, in Truro and at other locations where we have just the one car park."

The council highlighted how drivers can park all day in most long-stay car parks across the county for less than £3.

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It also suggested that motorists would be best-suited to bring the cost of their parking down with the JustPark wallet, especially if they regularly use council car parks.

Drivers using the JustPark wallet could park from as little as £2.02, or no more than £2.89 in Truro.

Motorists wanting to use the wallet will need to download the JustPark app and pre-load their account with funds, which must be a minimum of £35 at the time of purchase.

Cornwall Council car parks accepting cash payments

• Bodmin - Dennison Road
• Bude - Crescent
• Callington - New Road South
• Camborne - Rosewarne
• Falmouth - Grove Place
• Fowey - Main
• Hayle - Foundry Square
• Helston - Trengrouse
• Launceston - Cattle Market
• Liskeard - Westbourne
• Looe - Millpool
• Mevagissey - River Street
• Newlyn - Duke Street
• Newquay - Manor
• Penryn - Saracen
• Penzance - Harbour
• Redruth - New Cut
• Saltash - Culver Road
• Seaton - Seaton Park
• St Austell - Polkyth
• St Ives - Trenwith
• Torpoint - Antony Road
• Truro - Old Bridge Street
• Wadebridge - Goldsworthy Way
• Widemouth Bay - Widemouth Bay
• Helford - Helford
• Gwithian - Gwithian Towans
• Lelant - Lelant
• Porthcothan - Porthcothan
• Polzeath - Polzeath Beach
• Long Rock - Long Rock
• Marazion - Marazion
• Porthleven - Kitto's Field
• Par Beach - Par Beach
• Carbis Bay - Porthrepta
• Boscastle - Cobweb
• Tintagel - Tintagel Visitor Centre
• Trebarwith - Trebarwith Strand
• Tregantle - Tregantle
• Cawsand - Cawsand
• Porthtowan - Beach Road
• St Agnes - Reppers Coombe
• Perranporth - Wheal Leisure
• Downderry - Downderry

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