Multi-million pound projects earmarked for Mount's Bay, and a one-way system and regeneration scheme for Penzance's Market Jew Street, will go under the spotlight at a public meeting at the Queen's Hotel at 7pm next Thursday.

The Penzance Area Forum event, which will include an update on proposed developments for Newlyn harbour and Penlee quarry, Penzance harbour and the Promenade, will put on show drawings illustrating the regeneration and one-way scheme for Market Jew Street. The Penzance Harbour and Town Regeneration Committee includes representatives from the chamber of commerce, Isles of Scilly Steamship Co, Penzance Dry Dock, hoteliers, town and district councillors and representatives of Penzance Civic Society and Penzance Forum.

It has been looking at County Highways' proposals for a one-way system and regeneration scheme for Market Jew Street which could start this winter. County council representatives will explain and discuss the proposals.

The Forum is urgently recruiting people who would like to become involved so that when it receives grant funding from the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative it will be able to move on to the consultation process without delay.

Mayor of Penzance Simon Reed said this week: "The Forum is crucial to the future of Penzance so please get involved.

"The expected funding will be of enormous benefit to Penzance and the Penzance Area Forum will be at the centre of this initiative."

A major £600,000 investigation is about to start in Mount's Bay to help determine the scope and scale of future developments in Penzance and Newlyn.

Ian George, from Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd, of Plymouth, will explain how the hydrographic survey will be undertaken.

As well as supporting work on developments at the two harbours, the Hyder contract will encompass proposed sea defence work along Penzance Promenade and explore the implications of proposed breakwaters to a new channel which could help turn Penlee quarry into Port Penlee - a site for a 190-berth marina with housing and a hotel.

The Penzance harbour scheme will also include improved facilities for the Isles of Scilly ferry.

Newlyn Forum has a large scheme for the future of the harbour and the local community, and the survey will enable the port's harbour commissioners to formulate their own proposals for the long-term benefit of the port, maintaining its position as the top fishing port in England and Wales and ensuring continued employment for fishermen and associated workers, and the development of small boat pontoons to encourage visiting craft.

The proposed development will include a new pier and breakwater as part of a wider regeneration of the whole community, including artistic heritage tourism.

The data from the Hyder surveys will be fed into a computer model to study the effects of the new developments on waves and currents in the bay and to look at wave penetration in the harbours.

A flood risk study will assess the development impact on the Newlyn Coombe river and identify opportunities to improve the river's discharge capacity.

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