WORK is starting on a major Cornwall Council funded scheme to revitalise Penzance promenade so that residents and visitors can enjoy Cornwall’s only Victorian prom for years to come.

The improvements will be completed and ready ahead of the Tour of Britain road cycling event in 2020, when the eyes of the sporting world will be on Penzance as the field of world-class cyclists assemble on the promenade for the start of the race.

Survey work has begun to look at the structural condition of the promenade, which has been the victim of storm damage over recent years.

Once this work has been carried out the council will be asking groups, including local Cornwall Council members, Penzance Town Council, Penzance BID, environment and heritage groups and schools in the area for their opinion on how the promenade should look.

The plan is to hold a public exhibition in Penzance towards the summer to present the ideas from these groups with the resurfacing scheme and other works anticipated to begin this autumn.

Cornwall Councillor for Penzance Promenade, Jim McKenna, has been calling for improvements to the promenade and said: “I have been working to try to secure funding for a new surface for the prom since the day I was elected.

"The fantastic news that the 2020 Tour of Britain will start from Penzance means that we can now look forward, not just to the race and the boost that will give our town, but also long-awaited investment into the promenade, which will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike.

"I would also like to place on record my thanks to those in Cornwall Council who supported Penzance in this, together with the town council, BID and Chamber of Commerce – a great example of partnership working.”

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, Geoff Brown, said: “Regenerating the promenade, which has taken a battering over recent years, will encourage more visitors to come to the area which will in turn contribute to the local economy.

"Our residents know best what works for their community and so it is tremendously important that they are involved and have an opportunity to share their ideas on how the area should look.”

The Penzance promenade resurfacing scheme is part of Cornwall Council’s ambition to provide a Mount’s Bay trail and wider Bay to Bay cycling and walking trail.

A designated cycle route adjacent to the promenade will be developed and in time, the plan is to see the Mount’s Bay route continue to the north coast via St Erth, Hayle and St Ives, connecting communities, attracting visitors and creating economic and cultural opportunities for west Cornwall.

The Penzance promenade scheme is the first phase of investment in the promenade ahead of a longer term regeneration and coastal protection scheme proposed by the Environment Agency.