Hull city centre renovation plans go on public display

Plans include moving the Wilberforce Monument to Queen Victoria Square.

Plans for a £25m revamp of Hull's city centre have gone on display as part of a public consultation over the project.

The council hopes to complete the first phase of the work in time for the city to host the year-long City of Culture arts festival in 2017.

The scheme includes repaving and pedestrianising roads, installing street fountains and illuminating some buildings.

If approved, building work is expected to start next year.

Labour councillor Stephen Bayes said the exhibitions were a chance for the public to influence the final details of the scheme.

'Some limitations'

"Anything can be changed within reason," he said.

"Clearly, there are some limitations on what we can do and the materials that can be used.

"It's all about the detail of the scheme really."

The council is investing £13m on the first phase and borrowing the remainder of the projected £25m spend.

One part of the scheme involves plans to move the Wilberforce Monument from outside Hull College to Queen Victoria Square.

The 102ft (31m) high column was built in 1834, as a tribute to the city's MP William Wilberforce and his work in abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire.