Cheltenham council votes to support traffic plan

The mostly-pedestrian High Street is interrupted by a road of one-way traffic at 'Boots corner'

A major plan to reduce traffic in the heart of Cheltenham town centre has been given council backing.

The proposal means 'Boots Corner' will be pedestrianised with changes to traffic-flow and one-way systems.

It is part of the Cheltenham Transport Project which is being led by Gloucestershire County Council.

Cheltenham Borough councillors voted by 21 votes to 17 in favour of the work and a commitment to contribute up to £2m towards the cost.

The final green light is expected to be given by the county council cabinet on 4 February.

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety on Cheltenham Borough Council, said: "This is the culmination of years of work by a lot of people to tackle a problem that has been acknowledged as significant in Cheltenham town centre for the last 50 years.

"Historically we have been paralysed in our attempts to resolve the problem. This is the catalyst to start improving the town centre environment and attractiveness to both businesses and visitors."