Everyone knows the traditional high street is under pressure. The recession and the squeeze on consumer spending has hastened its decline, but even when retailers were booming, the high street, particularly in our market and seaside towns, was struggling to see off the competition from burgeoning online sales and the growth of the out-of-town superstores and shopping malls.

Yet everyone agrees that a vibrant high street, full of unique independent shops, is a great asset to any community and those towns that have been able to hold on to their traders are testament to the fact that when it is done well, the high street is still a great place to do business.

The problem is that so many factors are working against that vibrancy, from expensive and inconvenient parking to a business rates regime which snatches back any profit from successful business before they have even had a chance to use it to enhance their operations.

The Prime Minister's appointment of Mary Portas – TV's "queen of shops" – to run the rule over Britain's waning high streets and suggest what might be done to save them could easily be seen as little more than a bit of window dressing. The use, by previous governments, of celebrities to undertake what seem like popular causes have seldom ended with any changes for the better. This project could go the same way.

But there is hope. The Falmouth Business Improvement District today throws down the gauntlet to Mr Cameron to come to the famous and historic Cornish port with Ms Portas to talk to traders and see what needs to be done to enhance their high street.

But instead of leaving it all up to the queen of shops to solve their problems, Falmouth traders have their own, well-advanced plans. And they could be used as a blueprint for other towns, across the Westcountry and, indeed, across the nation.

The best ideas are the simplest and Falmouth Business Improvement District has come up with a five-point plan that addresses all the concerns, virtually at a stroke.

In essence, the traders want their customers to have easy, free or low-cost parking; co-ordinated public transport; professional and well-funded town centre management; business rates that are paid locally and retained locally, without excessive increases that penalise businesses for doing well and – crucially – a cut in VAT.

Not all of these things are purely in the gift of Mr Cameron. But those that are not could become a reality with a bit of Prime Ministerial pressure. And we're pretty sure Ms Portas can be persuasive too, if she is given the chance.

Retailers are among the major drivers of the economy; earning wealth for the communities in which they are based, providing employment and contributing, through taxes and rates, to the local, regional and national finances.

Shopping streets are part of what gives heart and character to our market towns and, in a tourist area, help to bring in the visitors too. They are well worth saving. This plan could be the answer.