A REBIRTH of Cirencester's long-awaited Market Place plans is on the cards as Cotswold District Council pledges £100,000 to the scheme.

In February the Standard revealed the town council paved the way by agreeing to commit up to £150,000 to get the project back on track after 40 years of failed plans.

And now CDC's cabinet is set to follow suit and will discuss putting its own cash forward at a meeting today (Thurs).

Forward planning manager Chris Vickery described it as a "key flagship scheme that will make the most significant impact towards the town's regeneration and future economic vitality and viability."

The scheme aims to create a "cafÈ culture" in the town centre by making reducing traffic in favour of a more pedestrian-friendly layout.

The quality of pavements will be improved and better pedestrian links should be made between key places in the town.

Buses may also be barred from Market Place with a bus interchange created at The Forum.

CDC has submitted a bid to Gloucestershire County Council for the scheme to be included in the Local Transport Plan (LTP), which is vital to secure funding.

A "significant" amount of money had also been put forward by an unnamed source.

Roger Brown, county councillor for Cirencester, said the improvements would be a "shot in the arm for the town" and prepare it for economic recovery.

The last revamp of the Market Place was in the 1830s - before the Corn Hall was even built.

County councillor Stan Waddington said the scheme would be put forward for approval in the LTP in 2010.

The plans were included in the LTP in the 1990s and work started in 2003 in the Park Street area but the plans collapsed following a change of leadership at CDC.

In 2006 lobby group Action Cirencester's plans for a European-style piazza were also thrown out by CDC.