St Erth park-and-ride scheme approved
Plans for a 700-space park-and-ride scheme near Penzance have been approved.
The £10m scheme for St Erth was approved by Cornwall Council's Strategic Planning Committee by 16 votes to five.
The Conservative-Independent authority said the development would help ease traffic congestion throughout the west Cornwall area.
Critics said they were concerned about increases in village traffic levels.
'Carrying the brunt'
The plans include improvement work at the village's Grade II listed railway station and an increase in bus services.
Cornwall Council said the scheme would help clear jams on the A30 between St Erth and Penzance and capitalise on people travelling to Penzance, Truro and St Ives.
The St Erth Residents' Association said many villagers felt that the scheme was "purely a park-and-ride for St Ives".
Derek Tilby, from the association, said: "It solves St Ives' [parking] problems, but St Erth is carrying the whole brunt of this proposal."
Prior to the decision, St Erth Parish Council chairwoman Doris Harry said the parish authority and villagers "think that it's in the wrong place" and would mean a lot more traffic in the village.
She said that parking for 500 cars in nearby Lelant station, and hundreds more at Carbis Bay meant that such a scheme was necessary in St Erth.