A suggestion has been made to close off part of Falmouth's seafront for weekly cycling, running, walking and skateboarding in a bid to encourage more people to exercise outdoors safely.

The idea of a 'Cyclovia' has been put forward by Paul Abram from Budock Water, who would like to see a weekly closure of Cliff Road between Gyllyngvase and Castle Beach, and potentially Castle Drive also.

With many properties and hotels along Cliff Road he acknowledged it was unlikely that both sides of the road would be closed to traffic, but suggested the lane closest to the sea could be shut and traffic diverted along Melvill Road via Gyllyngvase Road and Castle Drive.

He has taken inspiration from a similar event in Bogota in Colombia, where every weekend streets in the city are closed to traffic and turned over to people to cycle, run, walk, skateboard and roller blade.

Falmouth Packet:

The idea would see families being able to cycle, skate and walk along Cliff Road. Photo: Anthony Greenwood

After experiencing it with his family both there and in Cartagena, he believes this could be the perfect way to encourage more people in Falmouth to get out and exercise, in a dedicated, safe area.

He envisages starting off small but over time opening up the route to food trucks, entertainers and local businesses such as cycle shops for repairs and bicycle hire - including electric e-bikes for people to try them and make a shift from vehicles - with the closure becoming more of a festival atmosphere in line with his experiences in Colombia.

Paul said: "Bogota started off small, so for us this could involve closing Cliff Road one way initially but over time linking to Swanpool and the town centre as vehicle free routes.

"One of our biggest memories was being passed by a train of children around ten years old on inline skates, all with the same kit on. Later we found out that inline skating is huge out in Colombia, mainly because of the closed roads every weekend to allow them to train.

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"Following on from the Covid lockdown more local authorities and local communities are looking at opportunities to open up the streets to people - maybe now is the time to start to push for the opening up streets in Falmouth?"

He said that due it’s the hilly nature, most of Falmouth is not conducive to ‘gentle’ cycling, running or walking for the majority of the population, except in Cliff Road where it is flat.

While the area is already popular for such activities, the pavement alternating from wide to extremely narrow ‘pinch points’ - sometimes less than one metre wide - made social distancing during the current times difficult.

Falmouth Packet:

A weekly closure of one side of the road is being suggested. Photo: Anthony Greenwood

Paul works in the NHS, focusing on respiratory disease, and while this project is not part of his professional remit he added: "One of the most important things - after stopping smoking - is physical activity so this will hopefully help improve the health of the community."

He is working with various groups and organisations locally, including the university, cycle clubs and Jayne Kirkham, Cornwall councillor for Falmouth's Smithick division, to try to access funding and is looking for feedback from the public on his ideas.

He has set up a survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5WQ2B75 and is also encouraging people to join the Falmouth Cyclovia Facebook group to follow the progress.