A £280,000 project to repave Market Place in Basingstoke’s Top of The Town is due to start next week.

The 22-week scheme will involve the relocation of the Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday markets for the duration of the project.

The markets will be moved to the bottom of Wote Street, between the back of Debenhams, in Festival Place, and the Central car park.

The repaving project is part of Hampshire County Council’s Operation Resilience programme, which aims to strengthen Hampshire’s roads and pavements to make them more resilient and keep them in good condition for longer.

It is also part of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s wider improvements for the town centre area.

During these essential works – which start on October 28 – Market Place will remain open for business with access to shops, The Willis Museum and other businesses maintained at all times.

Work will stop completely for the peak Christmas shopping period from November 30 to January 5. The scheme is scheduled to take 22 weeks in total, including the Christmas break.

The scheme will see the old paving taken up, the base reconstructed and new slabs laid. The old paving will be recycled or reused where possible.

Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, deputy leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: “Repaving Market Place is one of many projects we have been working on to improve Basingstoke town centre, which has recently also included a deep clean of the surrounding streets.

“We will work with the county council to let people know where the market is moved to temporarily, and to support the traders and businesses in the Top of The Town to minimise the disruption.

“The end result will be worthwhile - a much-improved market square - backing our plan to create an exciting, vibrant and interesting area for everyone to enjoy.”

Councillor Seán Woodward, Hampshire's executive member for economy, environment and transport, said: “To minimise disruption and maintain access at all times, the works will be phased and the county council will be working with individual shops to ensure we can work around their requirements.

“We have also asked our contractors to introduce working practices to keep disruption to a minimum, for example by setting up dedicated areas to cut the slabs that are away from the shops.

“We understand that the works will cause some inconvenience, and I hope people will bear with us while we carry out these essential improvements.”

Advance warning signs will be in place to alert people to the works and information will be sent to local residents and businesses. Information is also available online at www.hants.gov.uk/roads.