It has been confirmed that part of Helston will be temporarily pedestrianised for three weeks, at the insistence of Cornwall Council, to allow for safe shopping as the town reopens.

Councillor Miles Kenchington of Helston Town Council has given more details about how the system will work, after the council was told it must close Meneage Street to traffic so that social distancing can take place.

The measures will be in place Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, and will initially be for three weeks from June 22, to be reviewed after this.

Cornwall Council had first said the street must be shut from this Monday, but the Mr Kenchington said the town council fought to put this back a week, to give business owners and residents the chance to prepare.

In a bid to counteract the loss of half-hour free street parking, the town council will be paying for the first two hours of parking in the Trengrouse Way car park to be free during this time, out of its own council reserves.

The council has also received a £15,000 grant from Cornwall Council, as part of a government support package for towns, which will be used to cover what is needed to help businesses and residents of Meneage Street.

One idea is buying outdoor tables and chairs so that food businesses in the town can spread out into the street and allow people to eat takeaways outdoors.

Other measures will include hand sanitiser stations.

Earlier this week the council put out a series of suggestions for the public to give feedback on, about how the town should reopen safely.

Read more: Suggestion to pedestrianise Helston post lockdown to allow safe shopping

However, since then it has revealed that it has been ordered by the unitary authority to take these measures.

Describing it as a "public safety requirement from Cornwall Council", Mr Kenchington said more information would be given by the bus companies on Monday about changes to routes.

He added: "There are issues with people that are disabled, we know that. It's something we're trying to look at."

With regards to residents living at the top of Meneage Street, there were plans for a dual barrier system, giving them access to their homes via a pass, with a 'hard closure' then beginning roughly where Oliver's Estate Agents is.

At the moment the council is not considering shutting Coinagehall Street to traffic and is working with Cornwall Council on different options there.

There will be drop-in sessions at the Guildhall each day between 12 noon and 2pm this week, for people to ask questions, give their comments and ask for support.

A formal town council release is also expected on Monday, giving further details on the plans, including more on how the system will work and the ongoing communication to businesses and residents.