Truro City Council has agreed to fund an extension of the temporary road closures in Truro city centre until early January.
The Truro partnership team comprising of Truro City Council, Truro Business Improvement District (BID) and Visit Truro are confident the continued closures, which include Boscawen Street, King Street, High Cross, St Nicholas Street & Lower Lemon Street, will encourage visitors and workers to return to the high street with “space to shop”.
Truro BID will make a small financial contribution towards the cost of manning the road closures each week as well as funding the road closures on Saturdays and Wednesdays in the run up to Christmas. The City Council has agreed to set aside a maximum of £25k to cover the cost and will be applying to Cornwall Council for a grant to cover the costs.
The Truro Partnership team have been working together on many of Truro’s projects including the plans for Christmas in Truro. These will be marketed through the Visit Truro website and social media channels as well as other channels.
Mayor Bert Biscoe said: “If you love Truro, then make it your business to do your business in Truro, and we’ll do our best to keep you safe, and to try and sustain your jobs and enterprises.
Truro City Council, like all other concerns, has suffered financially during lockdown. It considers, however, that providing a safe environment in which people can feel comfortable to distance and queue during the autumn and in the Christmas period is a priority.
“We need to continue to positively manage the twin crises of Covid and economic recovery. All this relies on everybody cooperating and being alert. The provision will be kept under regular review as we welcome people back to work in the town centre, and back to do their business.”
Truro BID Manager Alun Jones added: “We hope that extending the temporary Covid related road closures will give both residents and visitor’s reassurance to come and enjoy Truro’s shops, eateries and attractions both now and in the coming months.
“In addition to our weekly contribution, the road closures on late night shopping Wednesdays and Saturdays in the run up to Christmas will be funded by Truro BID to give people space to shop, eat and drink this festive season. We encourage all businesses to continue to keep welcoming all customers and show that in Truro we are still creating the best environment that we can for people to shop.”