Could a glass roof over the top of Helston town centre be the key to securing the town’s fortunes in the years ahead?

It might sound futuristic, but this was in fact first suggested more than 30 years ago, by then councillor Richard Curnow.

Often considered to be ahead of his time, Mr Curnow’s vision of a Victorian-style canopy over Coinagehall Street – in much the same fashion as London’s Covent Garden – was resurrected this week as a way to bring more custom to the town.

The idea stemmed from a question from resident Jude Carroll at the Helston Question Time event, over what could be done to make more use of Helston’s assets.

While Penrose Walks, the Old Cattle Market, the “wonderful” Helston Museum and the skate park were all considered positives of the town, it was a suggestion of what more could be done that provoked interest.

Speaking from the audience, Ronnie Williams, who is also a town councillor, said: “The late Richard Curnow wanted to put a Victorian style roof all the way up Coinagehall Street. At the time we thought he was completely off his head.

“But what is our theme now for the next 20 years? I think there’s a little food for thought there.”

He also spoke of another of Mr Curnow’s ideas, to use the water in the kennels to power a lift transporting people from the bottom of the town centre to the top.

Event chair Bruce Taylor described the roof as a “cracking idea,” adding: “If you look at the piazza in Truro and Events Square in Falmouth, all towns are having to move to something that brings people back in. There are perhaps places in town where that could be perhaps considered by the council and partners.

“It may be now that this type of thing decides the future in Helston.”

Among the existing assets spoken about was Coronation Park, which the South Kerrier Alliance is about to sign a 99-year lease for, to bring it under the control of the people of Helston.

Vicki Matthew, a director of SKA, said the lake would need “a lot of money” spent on it, but just as important would be the support of people in the town, saying what they would like to see happen there.

“We can’t raise expectations and say we can do everything; we can’t. But we will want to involve people in Friends of the Park, people who want to volunteer, people who want to steer what happens down there.”

New bard Martine Knight agreed that “the biggest asset of Helston is its people” and said the town has, historically, “not been good at selling itself.”

Former MP Andrew George said Helston should see itself as “a resource base” for the whole of the Lizard Peninsula, which everyone had to pass through to get further afield, while Helston and Lizard Foodbank coordinator Ruth McGurk believed business rates need to be reduced to make it viable for people to set up in the town.

“We have to make that hub in our town and then people will want to come in to shop,” she added.

See page… for a complete round up of all the topics debated at the first Helston Question Time.