A WINCHESTER city centre street near the cathedral will be closed to allow for works to pavements by the county council.

Work will start on footway improvements in St Swithun Street on Monday February 24 and will last for 10 weeks.

The works will be undertaken in two phases.

Phase 1 - Southgate Street to St Thomas Street: Starts on Monday February 24 and is expected to take seven-eight weeks. St Swithun Street will be closed to through traffic between 9.30am and 4pm each weekday and open at all other times.

This will restrict access into the Cathedral Close.

The road will be closed using signs and barriers and Hampshire Highways staff will be located at either end of the closure to move barriers for access-only purposes.

The workforce will also be able to advise pedestrians where it is safe to walk while the works are underway.

Phase 2 - St Thomas Street to Symonds Street: Due to start on Thursday April 9 and take two to three weeks. St Swithun Street will again be closed between 9.30am and 4pm each weekday and open at all other times. To maintain vehicular access for small vehicles only, the one-way restrictions on St Thomas Street, Minster Lane and Symonds Street will be relaxed to allow traffic to run in each direction. Temporary traffic lights will be erected at the junction of Symonds Street and Minster Lane, and several parking bays will be suspended in St Thomas Street and Symonds Street to accommodate this change.

Residents with Zone S permits will be permitted to park in the adjoining Zone C for the duration if they cannot find an alternative parking place in their own zone.

Between 9.30am and 4pm no goods vehicles will be permitted in St Swithun Street. All deliveries and collections should be arranged to take place outside of these working hours.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for economy, transport and environment at the county council, said: “Looking after Hampshire’s extensive highway network, for all those who use it by foot, cycle or vehicle, is one of our top concerns. These footway works are part of our planned maintenance programme, Operation Resilience, which is a long-term strategy designed to ensure Hampshire’s highways and footway network is resilient to the impact of severe weather by using our resources as efficiently and effectively as possible. The programme uses a variety of treatments to extend the life of highways infrastructure while at the same time getting the best value for money for Hampshire’s council taxpayers.

“I would like to reassure local residents that these essential works have been carefully planned and we will do all we can to minimise disturbance and disruption."