After more than two years of waiting the first version of Helston Town Plan looks set to be published.

A group set up to look at the results of the town plan questionnaire, carried out in 2011, will recommend to Helston Town Council today (Thursday) that it adopts the current version of the town plan as an interim plan.

The Town Plan Working Party will also propose that the final version be published in spring next year, to allow ideas given during the ongoing consultation about town centre improvements to be included.

Approximately 5,200 printed questionnaires were circulated to Helston households in July 2011, with 575 copies returned; a further 41 people responded via an online survey.

Housing: A total of 55 households, or members of their family, consider themselves eligible for affordable housing, while 25 households consider they needed affordable housing immediately.

A total of 29 per cent of respondants felt there was not sufficient open marking housing in Helston.

Recreation Leisure and Healthy Lifestyles: Of those that responded, 325 households suggested a town newsletter would be the best way to give information on park facilities and recreation programmes, followed by community notice boards with 220 responses.

A strong 82 per cent (530 people) currently use the town’s recreational areas and 431 people believed parks and open spaces were the most popular recreation areas.

A total of 347 households would like to see adequate toilets provided within parks, followed by 327 suggesting walking trails.

Teenagers were highlighted as the age group needing more recreational facilities in the town, with 194 households specifying 16 to 18 year olds and 163 highlighting 13 to 15 year olds.

Community facilities: Just under half (48 per cent – 295 people) were happy with the level of sports and leisure facilities currently offered, with 82 per cent supporting Helston having a modern community centre with parking (297 households agreeing and 212 strongly agreeing) and 49 per cent (300 respondents) considering Helston did not have enough community meeting spaces.

A large 82 per cent supported facilities such as the Epworth Hall being upgraded and 79 per cent supported a tourist information centre.

Environment and Heritage: A total of 62 per cent were not happy with the number of dog waste bins, with 87 per cent wanting stronger action taken against dog fouling.

Eighty-five per cent wanted to see the streets kept cleaner, with 84 per cent wanting residents to take responsibility for keeping the town clean and tidy.

A huge 92 per cent wanted to see white washed walls and kennels properly maintained and 67 per cent wanted more allotments.

Economy and Transport: A transport infrastructure to make it easier for goods and customers to reach the area was supported by 81 per cent and 74 per cent supported a major works programme of the Helston/Redruth Road. Conversely 47 per cent disagreed that major works on the Helston/Falmouth Road to would help safety.

However, 60 per cent would like the reinstatement of the rail link and 75 per cent supported Helston Business Park being a key priority to help regeneration.

People Aged 60 Years and Over: Local health provision was rated the most important service (222 responses), with transport rated second (121 responses).

Young People Aged Ten to 17 Years: The main reasons young people gave for being prevented from getting involved in clubs and organisations were expense (27 people) and options not being interesting (26 responses).