NEW details on how Bodmin's town centre could be redeveloped to attract major high street retailers have been outlined.

The key areas involve two of the district council car parks and a vision to extend the main shopping area of the town.

Planners see the facility off Dennison Road transformed into a thriving shopping precinct. It would involve the demolition of the Stillmoor House GP surgery, with the practice relocated on the other side of the road, where offices are also planned on the redundant West End Motors site.

The consultants hired by NCDC to devise the masterplan say it will be vital to link the new shopping mall with Fore Street by making the narrow alleys and paths between the two areas more attractive and shopper-friendly, possibly by creating covered walkways.

Behind the Public Rooms, a new multi-storey car park, with 220 spaces is envisaged with most of the current sloping NCDC car park developed as housing.

The multi-storey plan would involve the demolition of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and improved access to Fore Street.

The overall aim is to create a larger town centre, incorporating Dennison Road.

At a presentation at the Shire House suite, residents were told the multi-million pound project aimed to make Bodmin a more attractive place to shop, work and spend leisure time.

The retail units planned for the Dennison Road car park would need to be large to meet the requirements of major high street stores, and the new precinct should also be pedestrianised, with delivery lorries restricted to certain hours of the day, consultants said.

Most people who attended the presentation were happy with plans for the Dennison Road area, but concern was raised over the multi-storey car park which it was said, could become a blot on the landscape and attract undesirables if not properly managed.

Hans Von Bommell, from consultants New Masterplanning, said modern multi-storeys were better designed than their predecessors and built to a much higher standard, with proper management and security in place.

With the present downturn in the economy, there is little prospect of private developers investing in the regeneration of the town centre immediately, but that could change if the market improves over the next two years, residents were told.

NCDC wants to approve the plans in principle early next year before the local authority is dissolved at the end of March.

An exhibition of the proposals is on view at Bodmin Tourist Information Centre for the next five weeks, where the public can give comments using a questionnaire.

Veteran town and district councillor Tommy Denholm said he looked forward to the town centre being transformed with the help of private developers.

"All the strategic sites where development is planned have now been secured, and an application now requires approval in principal.

"I do hope the regeneration of the town centre will succeed.

"One day, I would like my grandchildren to say to their children: "Your great grandfather was associated with this.''

"It would be nice to think Bodmin has a future, as well as a past.''