PLANS for major changes to Cirencester’s Market Place have been recommended for approval when a decision is made next week.

Officers at Cotswold District Council (CDC) have given their support to a decades-in-the-making overhaul of the centre of the town, ahead of councillors on the planning committee meeting to vote on the scheme on Wednesday morning.

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.

In a letter to CDC, English Heritage praised the designs, writing: “The regeneration scheme is seen as a positive move and a continuation of earlier implemented schemes to revive the historic core of the town.”

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.

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

However, some traders fear the net loss of parking spaces in Market Place would negatively impact business.