Pedestrianisation of all or part of Helston town centre is being considered as a way of helping the town recover post lockdown.

Helston Town Council has put out a series of suggestions that it now wants feedback on from residents, over what they would like to see happen to help support the town's businesses and boost trade - in particular its hospitality businesses that needed greater outdoor seating - give residents the confidence to return to the town centre and ensure the health and safety of shoppers and pedestrians.

There are five options being put forward to help achieve this:

- Pedestrianise Meneage Street.

- Pedestrianise Coinagehall Street

- Introduce a one-way system, down Coinagehall Street.

- Pedestrianise Helston town centre.

- Make no changes the travel layout.

For the purposes of these options, the town centre is defined as Meneage Street, Coinagehall Street, Wendron Street up to the Godolphin Club and Church Street from the Coinagehall Street junction to just before the Penrose Road junction.

Mayor John Martin said: "The options should be considered as stand-alone and more than one might be used to address the issues."

He added that for any project to be fully successful it was recognised that "more needs to be done than just closing a street to traffic."£

As such, the following supporting measures are also being considered:

- Initial hour or two free in car parks.

- Support for shopfront improvements.

- Outdoor furniture.

- Visuals around the town centre including flags, planters and lights.

- Entertainment.

Mr Martin added: "Keen to understand the impact of these options on residents and businesses, I encourage you to let me have your thoughts.

"Everyone should be aware that these options are borne out of necessity and the desire to keep you safe whilst supporting businesses in this most trying of times.

"Ever the optimist, I hope that out of this crisis, we can see our way to a brighter future for the town we love so much."

There are plans to hold socially-distanced drop-in sessions at the Guildhall over the next few weeks, to give people the chance to discuss the options and issues in more detail, with updates to be give via the town council website and local press.

Mr Matin said it was "clear that pedestrians will need more space", adding: "The current layout of Helston does not enable people to walk safely around the town whilst maintaining social distancing.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity to change how we move around our town centre."

He went on to say that indications were that there was a link between Covid-19 recovery and fitness, and there had been a "significant upturn in active travel, particularly walking and cycling."

Mr Martin quoted the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, who said: "Active travel is affordable, delivers significant health benefits, has been shown to improve wellbeing, mitigates congestion, improves air quality and has no carbon emissions at the point of use. Towns and cities based around active travel will have happier and healthier citizens as well as lasting local economic benefits.

"The government therefore expects local authorities to make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians. Such changes will help embed altered behaviours and demonstrate the positive effects of active travel."

Mr Martin concluded: "The 2020 coronavirus pandemic is the most significant event of my lifetime; it has had a terrible impact on the health and lives of individuals, as well as severe economic consequences for businesses.

"Whilst its impact has been immediate, shocking and sharp, I am confident that the resilience of local people will enable us to survive, revive and prosper as we adapt to the new normal."

To give feedback contact Mr Martin by emailing j.martin@helston-tc.gov.uk