THE controversial Market Place scheme renovation in Cirencester has picked up the Conservation Area Award at the Civic Voice Design Awards.

Nominated by Cirencester Civic Society, the award was presented at a ceremony in London on July 12.

Designed by Portus + Whitton Landscape Architects and funded by Cirencester Town Council, the scheme has aimed to reduce regional traffic whilst keeping accessibility and creating a new public space for markets and other public events, including the recent successful Food Festival.

The Civic Voice Design Awards recognise well-designed new build, heritage and public realm projects nominated by local community organisations.

The Market Place was up for the award against Calverley Adventure Grounds in Tunbridge Wells and the Piece Hall in Halifax in the Public Realm section.

Martin Portus was on hand to pick up award along with William Cooper, Cirencester Mayor Nigel Robins and Cirencester Town Council Chief Executive Officer Andrew Tubb .

He said: "Portus and Whitton are very pleased to receive this national design award. The implementation of the scheme was a team effort with Simon Large of Magna and Martin Jones of IDS engineers. The judges awarded Cirencester the winner because the ‘Market Place scheme demonstrates the power of urban design in helping to enliven our historic high streets and sets an example for Conservation Areas across the country’.

"It is also very gratifying to witness the busy markets and fairs that now use the space as well as, of course, the many residents and visitors to Cirencester who enjoy every day the high quality, beautiful new public realm in the heart of the town”.

Cirencester Town Council said: "We’re delighted that Cirencester Market Place received a national Civic Voice award yesterday recognising the landscape design in a conservation area by Portus + Whitton."

However, not everyone is delighted with the award. The renovation has been mired in controversy and has its share of vocal critics, with complaints about traffic flow and kerbs.

Critics of the scheme include the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK). Sarah Gayton, shared space coordinator for the NFBUK, told the Standard: "Concerns were raised with Civic Voice on the Cirencester market place scheme entry to their national competition a while back, and it comes as a great surprise, shock and sadness the scheme has been been given a conservation award at last weeks award ceremony.

"The scheme does not need a shiny award - it needs immediate action to make Cirencester safe and accessible for all, who work and visit the historic market town.

"Proper kerbs, with good colour contrast and controlled push button crossings need to be reinstalled back into the town to make it safe and accessible for all. Many other schemes have had to u-turn shared space design due to theses problems and Cirencester will have to do the same."