CONTROVERSIAL plans to improve Romsey town centre for pedestrians will come under the microscope tomorrow.

Civic chiefs are recommending Test Valley Borough Council's executive committee backs a series of radical changes to Market Place, Bell Street, Church Street, The Hundred and Latimer Street.

But Romsey Forum secretary Mark Cooper said there is not enough money to go ahead with the Market Place, Bell Street and Church Street phase - the most controversial part of the scheme.

He told the Romsey Forum's November meeting last week that Hampshire County Council would go ahead with financing the work in The Hundred and Latimer Street in the meantime. Mr Cooper said the county and borough want to enhance the market town ambience of Romsey to keep it competitive.

He said he hoped changes to the Market Place would go ahead later and expected Test Valley to urge the county to find funding for the project.

But proposals for changes to the Market Place, including enlarged pavements, have raised alarm among shoppers and traders angry at losing on-street parking.

County Councillor Liz Barron told the forum the scheme had come out more expensively than planned "because we want better materials used".

She is urging the county to continue with its plans for the Market Place but said that "the impression in the county council is that Romsey doesn't want anything".

Romsey resident Arthur Rose said the Market Place should not be changed but funding used to maintain pavements and central roads.

Tomorrow's executive committee meeting starts at 6.30pm in Test Valley's offices in Duttons Road, Romsey. A video link is due to be set up in the foyer if the council chamber becomes full. Hampshire County Council's Cabinet members are expected to make a final decision on the proposals in January.