Residents in Hayle will soon get the chance to have their voices heard on two key issues for the future of the West Cornwall town.
They will be asked to comment on plans for a new footbridge as well as the possibility of transferring land into 'community ownership'.
The first of the consultations, to be held by Hayle harbour owner ING, is likely to be on the position and type of bridge linking either South Quay to East Quay or South Quay to Penpol Terrace.
ING Red's UK acquisitions director, Simon Clarke, said: "There are three or four options that we could pursue for a bridge and we will consult on those. I am preparing presentation boards for the bridge and we have had some initial consultation meetings."
People will be asked their opinions on what location they think most suitable for the footbridge and whether they think the bridge should be fixed or have a lifting section.
Mr Clarke said the Dutch firm was being as flexible as possible with Cornwall Council and if the authority decided it wanted more ambitious plans it could bank the money.
At a recent meeting, town councillor John Bennett expressed concerns about the project's timescale. He said: "I would like to make a proposal that this council urges ING to get a move on with the consultations.
"I am also concerned about the process and I don't want us to get into a position where we get to the last three months and we have a very brief process put on us. I think we need more details on what they want to do."
But Mr Clarke said the consultations were in hand, though he added that the second – involving the transfer of harbour management to a community body – was more complicated.
In August last year ING said it would transfer a hefty list of assets back into the ownership of the town.
The company proposed gifting its property to a new community trust and setting up a ground rent scheme across its outline master plan to help fund the running and maintenance of the harbour in the future.
It will now offer a number of options for who should manage the port, likely to include setting up a community interest company to run the harbour or creating a municipal port, which would transfer ownership to the council.
Mr Clarke said: "There is a lot more involved (for this consultation). We have had some preliminary meetings but if I can get it going just before Christmas I will."
