I know of several airports where the ground power unit will be connected while we still taxi towards the final position. Usually only during the last 5m. They do not even ask, just connect. Some of those are not deemed regional airports either. Can't say anything about newquay though, never was there.
I don't know if it is a false sense of security with automated docking systems where airplanes usually will stand at the same exact position every time, however even then brakes can fail.