A HISTORIC Hampshire town centre is to be made more pedestrian-friendly in a multi-million-pound project.

Church Street, Bell Street and the Market Place in Romsey will get a makeover under the £500,000 first phase of the scheme.

Work will start in Church Street in January and should be completed by the end of June 2015.

Highway bosses claim the improvements will slow down traffic and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. They are also aimed at making Romsey more attractive for people who live, work and shop in the town.

Church Street’s new-look will include a buff-coloured one level shared Tarmac surface for motorists and pedestrians and the installation of 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. This 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 and benches and planting troughs will be installed outside Test Valley Borough Council’s offices.

At each end of the shared surface area a slope will be built into the road. A lay-by outside Romsey Post Office will also be retained.

Romsey town centre manager Mark Edgerley said: “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.

“The improvements will also improve safety for 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 added: “I strongly support the improvements to Church Street and see them as a template for improving other parts of the town centre including Bell Street and the Market Place.”

Funding for the scheme is coming from Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council.

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

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.”