PLANS to make Romsey town centre more pedestrian-friendly are going ahead next year. In a joint project bosses at Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council have agreed to a £500,000 scheme to enhance Church Street.

Work will start in January and be completed by the end of June.

It’s the first phase of an upgrade scheme which will also eventually include Bell Street and Market Place Church Street’s new-look, first unveiled at a public consultation earlier this year, will include a buff-coloured, single level, shared tarmac surface for motorists and pedestrians.

There will also be pinch points at the junction with the Market Place and outside the borough council’s offices just north of the junction with Church Place.

Yellowstone kerbing will be used in pedestrian areas and new street furniture will be installed including bollards. These will be designed to match existing town centre street furniture.

A barrier will be installed where Abbey Walk meets Church Street to prevent children, in particular, from running straight out into the road from the small shopping area.

Benches and planting troughs will be installed outside Test Valley Borough Council’s offices.

The lay-by outside Romsey Post Office will be retained.

At the ends of the shared surface area a slope will be built into the road surface.

Highway bosses claim the enhancements, aimed at slowing traffic down and making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, will also make it more attractive for people who live, work and shop in the area.

Romsey Town Centre manager, Mark Edgerley said: “I very much welcome the first stage on an investment programme that will see all the streets in Romsey centre improved to shared surfaces, as a declared ‘dementia friendly’ town it is vital that we improve pavements to reduce slopes and other trip hazards which cause so many problems to our less able residents and visitors alike.”

Mr Edgerley added: “The improvements will also improve safety of young children and ease access for prams and buggies. Overall, these works will make the town a more pleasing and attractive area to shop and relax in, hopefully encouraging even more people to use our great shops and eateries.”

Romsey’s county councillor Mark Cooper is also firmly behind the scheme which he saw a “template” for improving other parts of the town centre including Bell Street and the Market Place.

“Local councillors have had an unusually high degree of input to the design and layout brief and I am convinced that once installed the townscape and its usability will be much improved,” she said.

Hampshire’s cabinet spokesman for transport and environment, Councillor Seán Woodward approved the scheme this week.

Afterwards he said: “The main aim of the scheme is to enhance the environment and support the economic viability of Romsey’s historic town centre whilst improving accessibility for all. Church Street currently suffers from uneven surfaces, narrow pavements and relatively fast traffic flows that discourage people from enjoying the area for any length of time. Our proposals look to address these problems.”

Borough council cabinet spokesman on planning and transport Martin Hatley also believes the proposals will benefit Romsey.

“I welcome the proposed scheme to provide better access for pedestrians, reduce traffic speeds and enhance the appearance of this historic part of the town centre, “ he said.

“The Church Street scheme aims to encourage both residents and visitors to spend more time enjoying the town, visiting its attractions and browsing its many shops thus adding to its economic prosperity. This project has been an excellent example of our two councils working in partnership with the community.”