Helston’s new mayor is taking a step towards improving the look of the town and turning her attention to the pavements.

In her acceptance speech, Gillian Geer said her ambition was for the return of the town’s original granite paving slabs, which have been removed over the years and “thoughtless replacements” left in their place.

This first speech after being sworn in usually gives a new mayor the chance to say which charities or organisations they intend to support over their coming year of office.

However, Mrs Geer said: “This year, I hope to do something a little different. I want to take this opportunity to benefit everyone who lives in, or uses, the town.”

Stating that Helston’s “quaintness is under threat,” she explained this term referred to its granite, Regency buildings, kennels and other features that gave the town its character.

“We’ve made a start,” she said, pointing to the recent restoration of the Grylls Monument and the cannon from HMS Anson outside Helston Museum, with other parts of the town centre soon to be spruced up through the Helston in Bloom scheme.

“But what about the rest of our two main streets?” she added. “Walk down Meneage Street and Coniagehall Street and you trip over bricks, broken flags, poorly done repairs and thoughtless replacements of old materials with new.

“To make good a hole in the pavement near the Seven Stars in time for Flora Day, workmen came along with a bucket and filled it with tarmac.”

Instead Mrs Geer drew attention to the pavement opposite the Blue Anchor, which she said was surfaced with hand-chiselled granite featuring non-slip grooves and “the right colour, quality and dignity that Helston merits.”

“I’d like to see more of the town dressed in such style,” she said, adding that when the now disbanded Helston Business Improvement Partnership was looking for a logo, one incorporating the chiselled pattern on these granite slabs was the second most popular design.

“I have begun discussions with the county authority to assess the possibility of extending the granite. So far, the reaction has been good. I believe some match-funding may even be available,” said Mrs Geer.

She added: “I propose to devote some of my time as mayor to trying to do something for the benefit of all the citizens of Helston, returning as much as we can of its pavements to their traditional granite glory.”

She hoped Helston’s businesses and residents would support the scheme, adding: “All with benefit – not least our visitors in search of ‘quaint’.”

Mrs Geer, who had been deputy mayor since the death of former office holder Mark Upton last October, was officially elected at a ceremony in the Guildhall last Tuesday evening in front of her fellow town councillors and invited guests. She takes over from Mike Thomas.

Councillor John Martin was elected as deputy mayor for the new civic year.

In her speech Mrs Geer also thanked the town council’s team of staff for their “knowledge, skills and hard work,” and paid tribute to the “host of other people who work, paid or unpaid, for the good of Helston.”

She particularly singled out the Flora Day Association, Helston and Lizard Food Bank and the Epworth Hall Management Group.