Truro City Council is set to look at whether the pedestrianisation of the city’s main streets should become more permanent.

Some of the main streets in the city centre have been closed to traffic at certain times since June to help reopen the city following the coronavirus lockdown.

That is now set to continue until at least Christmas but the city council has also agreed to look at making it more permanent.

It voted this week to start a consultation with all stakeholders including businesses, members of the public and shops on whether the streets should remain pedestrianised in future.

The current pedestrian management was put in place after Cornwall Council invited the city council and Truro BID to submit proposals.

Boscawen Street, Pydar Street, High Cross, King Street, St Nicholas Street, Lower Lemon Street, Duke Street and part of Quay Street are all included in the current scheme.

A petition to get the city pedestrianised has also received a number of signatures from people in support.

In a report to the city council this week council clerk Roger Gazzard explained: “Following a consultation meeting with stakeholders, proposals were implemented at very short notice, comprising of signage and road closures.

“The purpose of the proposals was to provide a high level of public safety at a time when social distancing is required; and allow the businesses to open safely.

“There is a weekly operational meeting that reviews the success of the scheme and in the early weeks some changes were made to remove River Street from the closed area and to change the daily closure time to 11am to 3pm.”

Funding for the scheme is due to end this month but the city council and Truro BID were both keen to have it continued.

However the BID said that with businesses not currently paying their levy they could only contribute £150 a week towards the scheme which would leave the city council with a weekly bill of £1,500.

The city council is set to apply to Cornwall Council for a grant to cover the costs but has also agreed to set aside a maximum of £25,000 to cover the cost until January if needed.

Explaining the decision to support the continuation and to start the consultation city councillor Dulcie Tudor said on Facebook: “Last night Truro City Council voted through the proposal for a full and comprehensive consultation in partnership with the Truro Towns Fund Board, with all stakeholders, on keeping central Truro shopping streets pedestrainised. We just have to decide how the consultation is paid for.

“We (Truro City Councillors) also voted to to keep the pedestrianisation 11am till 3pm up to Christmas (subject to funding).”