Porthleven has taken the next step towards creating a town plan.

This will be used to guide decisions about the future of the port, not just regarding housing but also roads, community facilities and larger developments.

Residents will be given an opportunity to give their views over the course of the process of putting together the plan and the plan must go to a referendum for approval.

Members of Porthleven Town Council have begun by forming a working party.

Councillor Andy Wallis told members that the council had previously had a larger version of a community plan, between 2002 and 2012, but this was now out of date.

He estimated that to create a town plan for Porthleven would be around a year's work.

Mr Wallis stressed that the plan would be there to advise decisions, but could not prevent development itself.

“The government has made it clear this is not a tool to stop development,” he added.

However, he did say: “We can influence areas where it's more suitable for development.

“Core strategy says that unless a neighbourhood plan is there development should be granted. It gives an extra level of protection.”

Government grants were available for between £500 and £7,000 per neighbourhood plan, with the first round of funding taking place currently and the second next year. A total of £2.5 million was available to be shared in each round.

Mr Wallis estimated that for Porthleven it would cost between £10,000 and £15,000 to create.

Members of the public have called for a plan to be created at previous meetings of the council.

Mayor Mark Berryman said: “I think it's fairly clear the council wants it and is behind it.”