Question 1

When do my bins get collected?

Accepted Answer

Cornwall collects food waste every week, and rubbish and recycling on alternating weeks. The day depends on your address, not a town-wide zone, so check yours once on the Cornwall Council website (search "Cornwall Council find my collection day") and note it — there's no public zone map we could honestly turn into a calendar.

Question 2

Can I just turn up at the tip?

Accepted Answer

No — Newquay's Household Waste and Recycling Centre (off Trevenson Road, past Newquay Tretherras school) is appointment-only. Book a free 30-minute slot online via Cornwall Council or on 0300 1234 141; you can book same-day if there's space, or up to a week ahead. It's open daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. No trade waste.

Question 3

Where can I get seen for a minor injury?

Accepted Answer

Not at Newquay Hospital for now. The Minor Injury Unit there is temporarily closed: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said on 27 August 2026 that it does not have enough specialist clinicians to run it safely, and that it planned to reopen from 5 October 2026 on reduced days — it had not published which days. The rest of the hospital is open as normal. In the meantime the nearest walk-in minor injury units are St Austell (8am–8pm), Bodmin and Camborne Redruth (both 8am–10pm); no appointment needed, and the Trust publishes live waiting times. If you are not sure where to go, call NHS 111 first. For anything life-threatening it is 999, or Treliske (Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro).

Question 4

How do I find an NHS dentist?

Accepted Answer

Honestly: with difficulty. Cornwall has a county-wide shortage of NHS dental capacity and practices' books open and close faster than any list we publish could track. Use the NHS "Find a dentist" site and call practices directly about NHS waiting lists, and for urgent dental pain call NHS 111 — they can book urgent slots that aren't offered any other way.

Question 5

Is there a lifeguard on the beach at the moment?

Accepted Answer

On some beaches, until 1 November. Fistral is patrolled every day to 1 November 2026. Towan, Watergate Bay and Crantock are patrolled weekends only from 3 to 18 October, then every day over half term, 24 October to 1 November. Porth, Great Western and Tolcarne finished for the year on 27 September, and Lusty Glaze and Whipsiderry are never patrolled. All patrols are 10am–6pm. After 1 November no Newquay beach is supervised until the spring. No red-and-yellow flags means nobody is watching — rip currents are common here all year. In an emergency, 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Question 6

Which beaches can I take the dog to?

Accepted Answer

Most of them, most of the year. The only council restriction in Newquay is at Porth: no dogs 1 July–31 August between 10am and 6pm (£100 fixed penalty). Tolcarne (no dogs 1 April–31 October) and Lusty Glaze (daytime restriction in high summer) are privately run and set their own rules. Fistral, Towan, Great Western, Watergate Bay and Crantock welcome dogs year-round. Full details are in our Beaches tool.

Question 7

When is Boardmasters, and what does it do to the town?

Accepted Answer

The next one is Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 August 2027, with the main arena and camping at Trebelsue Farm above Watergate Bay and the surf contest at Fistral. Tickets went on sale in August 2026. The 2026 festival ran 5–9 August. What the town notices is traffic: the roads north of town towards Watergate and the airport get heavy at the start and the end of the festival, and the A3059 and A392 back up. The town centre itself stays open as normal — traders’ complaint has been that festival week is too quiet in town rather than too busy, which is why there are extra events put on around Killacourt.

Question 8

I'm struggling to afford food. Where do I go?

Accepted Answer

Newquay Foodbank runs three weekly sessions: Tuesday 10am–12pm at St Columba Church (St Columb Minor), Friday 12–2pm at St Michael's Church in Newquay, and Saturday 10am–12pm at the Oasis Centre (St Columb Major). The usual route is a voucher from Citizens Advice, your GP surgery, a health visitor or social care — but if you're not in touch with any agency and need food now, call 07810 271202: they can give one box on self-referral. No one checks up on you.

Question 9

Is Whipsiderry beach open?

Accepted Answer

The sand is there, but the way down is not. The access steps have been closed since the cliff falls of November and December 2023, with a further fall in 2024, and they had still not reopened when we checked in October 2026 — no reopening date has been published. The only way onto the beach is round from Porth at low tide, and the incoming tide cuts that off completely. Check the tide before you go, give yourself the walk back, and stay well away from the cliff base, because the falls are ongoing.

Question 10

Can I walk to Crantock across the Gannel?

Accepted Answer

Only around low tide. The Gannel footbridge crossings flood as the tide comes in, and people get caught out every year. Check tide times before you set out, and remember the walk back needs the tide too. If in doubt, drive round — it's about 15 minutes.

Question 11

Who do I complain to about parking, planning or bins?

Accepted Answer

Almost all of it is Cornwall Council (0300 1234 100) — they run bins, planning, roads and most enforcement. Newquay Town Council (01637 878388, Municipal Offices on Marcus Hill) runs some car parks, allotments and town events, and is the right place to raise town-level concerns. If you're not sure, start with the town council — they'll point you right.

Common questions, straight answers

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