BUSINESSES at the Prince of Wales pier end of Falmouth say trade has "plummeted" since the town's new park and ride opened in a blaze of publicity this week.

They say people arriving at the park and ride in Ponsharden are opting for the float part of the scheme taking them directly to the maritime museum, missing out the Prince of Wales pier altogether.

Ken Pill, who runs a pleasure boat service from the pier, says people going up to the museum are staying up there.

"The businesses are suffering at this end of the town because of the park and ride," he said.

"The boats are taking people straight down to the maritime museum, they are not stopping here. They do have a boat which comes from the maritime museum to here, but it only has 12 passengers.

"The park and ride is a good thing for the town, but it should be not just for the advantage of the Maritime Museum and private enterprise it should be for the whole community,that's what we feel."

He says the bus from the park and ride which drops the passengers off at the pier is averaging only six people at a time, not enough to counter the numbers going to the museum.

The view is echoed by other businesses on and around the pier. Suzanne Channon, who owns Chazanne stationery on Market Strand says business has "plummeted".

"Last week I was thinking this year we are going to have a good season this year but since the park and ride started business has plummeted," she said.

Anne Lawrence, who owns Mulberry Fish Shop on the pier, says they have also noticed a difference this week.

"We are just not getting the people coming around if they park and boat they go straight to the museum. It is really quiet, we don't expect this at this time of year."

But business at the opposite end of town report they have not seen a corresponding rise in trade since the park and ride opened.

Ryya Sanders, manager of the Beside the Wave gallery in Arwenack Street, said they had not noticed any increase in business this week, but thought the park and ride was a positive thing to address the parking problems.

Libba Woodhouse, manager of Secrets said the same thing and it was difficult to detect any difference, indeed one of their three shops had been very quiet this week.

Mr Pill is having a meeting with Tim Light, owner of the Cornwall Ferry Company which runs the float side of the scheme, next week.

Mr Pill wants to see a separate ferry running from Ponsharden directly to the pier to encourage more people back.

"If it goes successfully," said Mr Pill "then we will be having more people coming to the Prince of Wales pier with boats running from the pier. Which should be good for our little community of shops and we'll get more trade if everything goes the way I plan."

He has also been to see town centre manager Peter Rugg who has promised to chase up signage at the Maritime Museum promoting the pier, the only working one in Cornwall.