After more than a year of debate, the £250,000 pot of supermarket money will be spent to develop the area around the Grylls Monument at the bottom of Coinagehall Street.

Although details will now have to be finalised, the proposal, one of three options put forward, is to create a pedestrian area in front of the monument by paving into part of the wide junction with Nettles Hill.

Although it is acknowledged that drivers often use the entrance to this junction to turn around, the idea is to make it easier to cross from Coinagehall Street and make better use of the area.

A walkway around the bowling green to steps that lead down to Castle Green would also be created, perhaps with a trail leading people down, to link the town better with Coronation Park and the Old Cattle Market.

Finally, there are plans to open up the view across the valley, to give the bottom of the town an impressive backdrop.

The decision to back this scheme was taken by Helston’s town councillors when they met last Thursday.

They heard that this was the scheme preferred by the Public Realm Project Board, made up of members from businesses, the town council, residents and other organisations.

Councillors unanimously voted to take forward this scheme, which will now go out to tender for a detailed design and costing.

Ronnie Williams described the area around the monument as “worn out” and the toilet block a particular eyesore.

“Everything is wrong down there,” he said. “I think if [the toilets were] done in granite and dedicated to the First World War... The money is needed to tidy this place up.”

Martine Knight pointed out that this was estimated to cost £319,000 – over the £250,000 available, set aside from the money given by Tesco and Sainsbury’s when they built new supermarkets in the town.

Martin Searle, Helston’s town centre regeneration officer who has been coordinating the process, said the cost estimates were based on the original concept designs and now that a scheme had been chosen a more detailed design could be made.

“We either have to cut items out or change the specifications,” he said, adding that he would also be looking for further grant funding to make more possible.

Grylls Monument was the second most popular proposal at a public exhibition held in December, receiving 62 votes out of 194.

The most popular design of those who voted here was to create a market area in Helston’s Trengrouse Way car park, improve Horse & Jockey Lane and expand a pavement in Meneage Street, which received 79 votes.

Coming in third was the proposed flattening out of the area outside Helston Museum and extending it into the road slightly, to take up the single yellow line area where cars park in the evening. This received 53 votes.

Grylls Monument was also the second favourite scheme of the 19 Helston Business Improvement Partnership members that responded to a survey.

Earlier in the meeting, councillors heard from Frances Phillips of Helston Bowling Club, which neighbours the site and gives its backing to the project.

She said: “With the lack of funds the area is now in need of regeneration. This area is of huge historical significance and should be maintained as such.

“Grylls Monument is in need of serious maintenance and as such a special icon should be at its best.”

She added that the paths and grass areas were also deteriorating.

Mrs Phillips described the public toilets as “a blot on the landscape for many years”, encouraging youths to congregate, and the police had to be called on occasion.

She said the bowling club would consider agreeing to the toilets being relocated to within its land, provided they were built and maintained by the council.

Do you agree with the choice of scheme? Have your say online at thepacket.co.uk or by writing to the Packet.