Consultation meeting about changes to Helston town centre details

They show potential changes to a few car parking spaces in Meneage Street, to create a better public space around Horse & Jockey Lane while maintaining the current traffic flow, as well as adding planting to parts of the Trengrouse Way car park and identifying some spaces that could be used for occasional markets and outdoor events.

While the images and information provided so far ahead of the Future of Helston Town Centre public consultation have generated much discussion on social media, organisers are keen to point out that there is much more information to see in the consultation displays and it is important that as many people as possible attend to share their views.

Plans will be on show in Helston’s Guildhall today and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday), between 10am and 8pm, when people can drop in at a time convenient to them.

Work has been progressing on each of the projects, which are now ready for public input in preparation for the recently announced Levelling Up Fund bid.

These include Helston’s Cultural Quarter and plans for better walking and cycling routes in the town. In addition, proposals for the old Budgens building, and detailed designs addressing the refurbishment of the town centre, traffic flow in Coinagehall Street and public transport, will be on show.

A CGI showing improved pedestrian accessibility to Horse & Jockey Lane and through Trengrouse car park, adding planting, while maintaining car parking spaces but identifying some for occasional markets and outdoor events Picture: MeiLoci

David Turnbull, of the Helston Place Shaping Team, said: "Ideas and proposals to help Helston’s town centre have been talked about for many years, but if we care about our town we must start to make things happen.

"Helston town centre was struggling before the coronavirus pandemic with declining footfall and increasing numbers of empty shop premises. It is widely believed that coronavirus has probably hastened decline – as it has in many town centres – by at least five years.

"Even before Covid, the rate of increase in empty premises in Helston town centre was more rapid than any other town in Cornwall. A Helston CIC retail survey in 2019 showed that 42% of shops had experienced a year-on-year decline in trading, with another 25% indicating zero growth. Although difficult to measure, town centre footfall continues to decline year on year.

"We must do as much as possible to help our town become vibrant, used by the community, appealing to visitors and attractive for traders to invest."

He said that in addressing these issues there were a number of important principles which must be accepted in order to progress from debate to action:-

• The group cannot change the business rates structure or the rental charges levied by private property owners

• It cannot force businesses, retail chains or independent traders to invest – investment will only come to Helston town centre if businesses see an attractive town where their business can thrive

• It cannot legally force property owners to improve their premises

"But, if we can create the environment which makes the town attractive and welcoming for visitors and the local community, we will also make it attractive for businesses to invest," said Mr Turnbull.

"We must invest in our core assets – our heritage and our community. If we improve key areas of the town centre we can create reasons for people to come to Helston. And we can then demand that property owners match our ambition.

"So we have a choice – we can continue to moan about the things we can’t influence or we can make the first move. With some key projects we can show that Helston is an attractive place for Helstonians, visitors and businesses. If we as a community don’t do something, nobody else will.

"If you would like to have your input, please come along to the consultation, view the plans and discuss the proposals with members of the Helston Place Shaping team."

Further details can be accessed within the Projects section of the Discover Helston website https://discoverhelston.co.uk/