RESIDENTS of Truro are being invited to help shape the future of an historic part of the city.

Discover Pydar consists of two days of activities organised by Cornwall Council in partnership with Truro City Council and Truro BID, to help raise awareness of the vision for the future of the Pydar Street Regeneration site.

Local Cornwall councillor Bert Biscoe said: “Pydar Street was evacuated for redevelopment in the 1950s/60s. It was a vibrant, long-established neighbourhood community which poured energy, strong values, business and care into the life of Truro – building its culture and economy. The ‘great 1960s plan’ went awry.

"The ‘surrendered space’ became offices, warehouses, car parks – and the life, indeed, the light, went out of it. Re-acquired by Cornwall Council, and with the town, like all market towns, facing economic and social change, what do we, the community of Truro, want?

"Would the town centre be enlivened and safer if people lived in it again? Could a new occupation of Pydar Street bring community life back into the heart of the modern town?

“So what do we want for Truro? Should we re-inhabit Pydar Street? Should we build a rail halt at Claremont Terrace (behind the Crown Court)? How should we manage the lovely River Allen? Should Pydar orchard be re-established? How can a renewed Pydar Street help Truro to manage and combat climate change? Don’t let consultants and developers call the shots.

"Cornwall Council is our council. It has a great opportunity to find out what putting community back into town can encourage and inspire – Truro has said too little for too long about itself, feeling that it is ignored, and that only money talks."

On the first day (April 13) there will be the Children’s Day celebrations being staged at Lemon Quay between 10am and 4pm, when plans for the Pydar site will be available.

On the Sunday it will move to the area next to Truro Bowl and focus on celebrating nature and the environment. People will also be encouraged to “explore Pydar” and consider the type of homes that the site could provide. All activities are free of charge and there is no need to book a place. It will run from 12-4pm.

“This is the first of a series of community events which will be taking place at Pydar over the coming months," said Councillor Bob Egerton, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Economy.

“By staging different kinds of activities on the site we want to encourage as many people as possible to come and find out what is being planned for Pydar and to give us their views on the emerging proposals."

“This event is focused on nature and the fantastic environment around the site, including the nearby woods and the river which runs from the viaduct to the cathedral. Future activities will include a “Get Active Weekender” in July with a three day programme of outdoor events delivered in partnership with leisure and sports providers; a Dawn to Dusk festival in September, with free music and a Community Dig Week in October which will celebrate the past history and heritage of the site.”

Truro’s Mayor Lindsay Southcombe is also encouraging people to come along to the Discover Pydar events.

She added: “The Pydar team will be at the children’s day on Saturday, 13 April with Wild Truro. Come along and help us design the perfect homes for butterflies, birds and bugs within the future Pydar Street neighbourhood."

Following the council’s decision to support the principle of developing the Pydar Street site last year, the authority has been working with partners and key stakeholders to produce a detailed scheme to be submitted for outline planning permission at the end of this year.

Award winning architects PRP have been appointed to lead the development of the outline plan and will be staging a series of workshops and other activities over the next few months to encourage the local community to help shape the final Vision for the site. The design team will be at both events to provide further information about the project and its potential.