Council's plans to pedestrianise Leominister centre on hold

Original proposals had included the pedestrianisation of the Corn Square in Leominster

Plans to pedestrianise a Herefordshire town's main square have been put on hold, a town council has confirmed.

Leominster is getting a £1.3m grant, matched by £1.9m from Herefordshire Council, to improve Corn Square, High Street and Victoria Street.

Each road has been due to be resurfaced in "buff-coloured" asphalt, alongside new, wider pavements.

But the town council has put on hold altering traffic access or parking arrangements for now.

However, it added there would still be consultation on pedestrianising Corn Square and part of the High Street, "once the works are complete."

Original proposals had included the pedestrianisation of the square to allow for events to be held, plus efforts to reduce traffic entering the high street, but that had changed after feedback, councillor Graham Biggs previously said.

Markets moved

The pavements in Corn Square will be repaired with slabs taken from the other streets "due to budget constraints", while a parking area in the middle of the square would also be resurfaced "if the budget allows."

The square is also set to benefit from new planting, seating and lighting, with raised crossing areas to improve accessibility at the High Street junctions with Victoria Street and Corn Street.

The town council said work would start "in late spring" and continue through the summer.

While access on foot would not be affected, all roads "will need to be closed to motor vehicle traffic for some time during the works".

Weekly Friday markets and monthly Saturday farmers' markets in Corn Square will also temporarily move to nearby Etnam Street car park.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.