IMPROVEMENTS TO GOLD STREET MOVE NEARER

2.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

Plans to pump £3 million into transforming Northampton's Gold Street to improve the route from the train station to Northampton town centre are set to take a giant step forward this week.

Orders are set to be published which will restrict traffic on the street to taxis and buses and will limit delivery times to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have priority - leading to new paving of the road and the installation of new street furniture as well as increasing the footway space.

Improving Gold Street is a key part of the ongoing Public Realm project being funded by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation and delivered by Northamptonshire County Council in partnership with Northampton Borough Council. The project aims to improve Northampton for visitors and shoppers by improving pedestrian areas.

Traffic regulation orders are being published in the local media this month and people will be invited to put forward their views on the proposals which if approved will hopefully take place later this year.

Liberal Democrat Leader of Northampton Borough Council, Cllr Tony Woods said: "These improvements will make the town centre a more attractive place. This will attract more visitors and so improve trade in the town. This is one of the first of many projects to revitalise Northampton."

Over the last few months traders in Gold Street have been invited to meetings and displays about the scheme and are being written to individually to let them know about the publication of the traffic regulation orders.

Subject to the traffic regulation orders going ahead, it is expected that the proposed works in Gold Street will start later this year.