As part of a major public consultation exercise into the planned changes, the town council will be holding an open meeting in the Free Church on Thursday, November 20.

Members of the public are invited to go along and listen to a presentation from Huntingdonshire District Council officers on the possible options for the town centre, and to put their views to town mayor Cllr Ian Dobson.
Cllr Dobson said: "As well as the detailed discussions with officers and members of Huntingdonshire District Council, I have engaged with the groups in the town whose views were sought as part of the pre-consultation process.

"The town council will urge full and energetic participation by all who welcome this £1m investment of public money and who want our town to move forward, while at the same time protecting the essential character of St Ives and its attraction as a flourishing and distinctive, working market town."

In August, a St Ives Town Centre Environmental Advisory Group met to discuss the way forward for the project, discussing several potential improvement options for the layout of the market place.
Following the consultation period, which will finish in January, plans for the scheme are set to be drawn throughout 2009, with the potential to start work in January 2010.

There will be public consultations about the issue on November 15 and 17 in the Free Church and on December 6 in the Sheep Market. These are being staged jointly by Huntingdonshire District Council and St Ives Town Council.

Display boards outlining the proposals are currently on view at St Ives Library, Rainbow Stores and the St Ivo Recreation Centre in Westwood Road.
Cllr Dobson added: "The prize for all concerned will be to take forward a plan which is right for our town, for the residents of St Ives and surrounding area, for its distinctive shops and leisure and other businesses and for its attractive and busy markets."