WORK required to lift, clean and reset the granite cobbles in Truro’s historic Boscawen Street is “going to plan and is on schedule” according to Cornwall Council.

But local retailers are keen for the work to finish, with repeated calls for pedestrianisation of the city centre to be considered.

Highway improvement works are set to continue in the city centre until Friday, November 6, requiring 24-hour street closures, including at weekends, in locations including Lower Lemon Street, Boscawen Street and Princes Street.

Alun Jones, manager of Truro Business Improvement District, urged customers to bear with local retailers while work is ongoing, and to make every effort to attend local shops and support the high street where possible.

“We are very aware these necessary works cause obstruction to customer sightlines across Boscawen Street, which will no doubt have an impact on resident businesses who have shared their concerns on this and all previous occasions,” he said. “We will be very grateful when these works are completed, and we would invite suggestions or initiatives, from Cornwall Council in particular, to avoid the previous repetition of the granite setts being damaged or sunken.

Mr Jones added: “One initiative that could be considered is the pedestrianisation of Boscawen Street, which would remove 400 buses that rattle through the street, which doesn’t enhance a pleasant shopping environment and possibly contributes to the work required.

“We are mindful that shoppers must have the best accessible means of getting in and out of the city centre, and that public transport plays an important part in that. However, in Boscawen Street were are lucky to have the bus station close by, and a major bus stop in Victoria Square. The distances to either location should be achievable for most.”