A vision of one-way streets and more town centre parking was laid out when a new group in Helston asked residents what they would like to see happen.

The newly formed Helston Community Interest Company (CIC) met the public for the first time on Thursday, giving people the chance to have their say on future ideas for the town.

At both sessions, which took place at the Central Methodist Church during the morning and evening, CIC members displayed a computer generated image of how they imagine Coinagehall Street could look – subject to public backing and funding being found.

It shows the street having one-way traffic, allowing tables and chairs to be brought out onto the street and herringbone parking to be created down one side.

It was acknowledged that this was a long-term project that would need further consultation and grant-funding, but there were other suggestions that could be achieved more quickly.

They include taking a currently empty building in the town, such as the former Original Factory Shop in Coinagehall Street, and converting it into short-term lease units for start-up shops.

Explaining the proposal, Wendron Street accountant Brendan Thomas said: “We can keep it commercial, so we set up a new company to fit out the Factory Shop, for example, and it is a commercial company to make money.

“That could happen quickly; this time next year we could have 20 or 30 small independent shops.

“The key to it is to make sure the rent is as low as possible - £150, £200 per month. It’s a short term lease, they don’t have to worry about business rates, electricity, WiFi because it’s covered. It becomes a good stepping stone for businesses working at home at the moment, but they’re not ready to take a whole shop.”

He acknowledged this depended on the agreement from the landlord of whichever building was chosen, but it was an idea that could be followed up in a short term frame.

Split into small groups, people attending the sessions should raise ideas in different aspects such as marketing, traffic and the environment.

Ideas raised from residents included improved parking in the Fairground Car Park opposite Coronation Lake, with the return of the park and ride bus that used to run 30 years ago; creating a walking tour of Helston; the possibility of closing a street every so often to hold regular markets in the town centre; and starting a water carnival on the boating lake.

CIC member Miles Kenchington, attending separate to his role as town councillor, also questioned whether there was a possibility of extending Flora Day or Helstonbury celebrations with another event immediately prior or afterwards, explaining: “We get a lot of people down that come beforehand – is there a way to expand that window?"

Dave Potter, also a town councillor but on the CIC in a separate role, said the idea was to get projects tabled up now, so that when funding became available they were ready to go.

“Say we want it one way from Turnpike to the [Grylls] Monument, for example. If we the community say that’s what we want, that plan is in Cornwall Council waiting for money to become available. It’s too late when money becomes available to start building the plan,” he explained.

The amount and speed of traffic in Cross Street was also raised again, with a suggestion that signs could be put advising motorists to ignore their Sat Nav and take a route around the outskirts of the town centre.

The top three ideas in each other, taken from both sessions, will be taken forward by the CIC to look at in more detail.