THIS is how Cirencester’s Market Place would look if decades-in-the-making plans for major changes are approved next month.

For 50 years there has been talk of overhauling Market Place and now, finally, there will be a decision when Cotswold District Council’s planning committee meets on December 10.

Cirencester Town Council’s project would see the area outside the parish church pedestrianised to allow people to walk around the different shopping areas with more ease, and the new bigger space would be used for markets and other events.

Traffic in Market Place would flow two-way on the south side, and Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) would be asked to reduce the current speed limit of 20mph.

There would be fewer parking spaces in total, 18 for the public and four for disabled badge-holders, with three spaces as a taxi rank and two for loading, but they would all be available during market days, which is not currently the case with the existing 42 general spaces and four disabled bays.

Traffic-lights at the junction of Market Place and Castle Street would be removed, which, along with the reduced speed limit, is aimed at giving the area a more free-flowing feel.

Castle Street would become one-way, going east towards Market Place, to stop the current rat-run-style traffic flow, and GCC would be asked to lower the speed limit from 20mph, while there would be an extra nine parking spaces on the road.

Buses which currently go west along Castle Street would be re-routed along Lewis Lane, Querns Lane and Sheep Street, and there would still be a bus service both ways along Market Place.

West Market Place would continue to be two-way, while Cricklade Street would remain one-way southbound, with extended hours of restricted access.

Deliveries would be allowed to businesses in the Market Place from the kerbside, and there would be controlled access for vehicles to the front and side of the church for weddings and funerals, with market vehicles following the same route.

A spokesman for the town council said: “The vision is to reduce unnecessary traffic and allow pedestrians to move easily within the Market Place, and reconnect it to other shopping areas. At the same time, increased flexibility would enable the markets and events to take place freely and safely, whilst still allowing access and parking.”

Cllr Geoffrey Adams, lead member for planning on the town council, said: “As we all know, schemes to rejuvenate the Market Place have been under discussion for the last fifty years and the town council is proud to have taken the lead in producing a plan which has received widespread support from across the local community.”

The plans have been backed by Cirencester Chamber of Commerce, with 75 per cent of its members showing their support.

However, shopkeeper Jonathan Davies, who owns Lock Stock and Barrel in Market Place, believes such a large project is unnecessary, with improvements to the paving, street signs and new street furniture enough to give Market Place a fresh look.

“I have never had anyone come into my shop and say ‘my god, that Market Place is ugly,’ so I would question spending all that money on changing it,” he said. Mr Davies is also worried that the construction work, which is expected to take about a year, would be disruptive for businesses.

He added: “I think making Castle Street one-way will just cause more congestion because people will be looking for another way down to Waitrose.”