PETERSFIELD High Street is to be closed for three days so that the final stages of the current town centre improvements can be completed.

Improvements to the Market Square and the High Street have been in progress since late last year. But Hampshire County CouncilÕs resident engineer, Nigel Baker, said he expected work to be finished by the end of this month.

In order to carry out final road surfacing the county council is to close the High Street to traffic on three consecutive days from 8 am on Sunday, June 22 to the evening of Tuesday, June 24.

During this time the High Street between Rams Walk and Dragon Street will be closed to traffic but there will be access for emergency services.

At the same time traffic controls will operate between Rams Walk and the HSBC Bank to allow vehicles past the works area while road planing and carriageway resurfacing take place.

Mr Baker said the High Street would be closed again overnight for three nights from 6 pm, on June 30, July 1 and July 2 for further road planing and resurfacing.

ÒPedestrian access to shops and properties will be maintained at all times,Ó said Mr Baker, Òand signs will be in place to route traffic.Ó

He added: ÒWe trust you will bear with us during this critical period and welcome this

final phase of works so that normal conditions can return to Petersfield as soon as

possible.Ó

On Tuesday Petersfield town councillors received notification from the county council on the next phase of the town centre improvement works.

This is centred around the introduction of a 20-mph zone in the historic core of the town and road humps in Hylton Road.

But Bob Ayer told fellow town councillors: ÒI think you should get quite upset that you have not been given more detail on the proposals. This is major work in our town and I believe you should have the plan in front on you.Ó

He said he had been given details of the proposal as a district councillor and was making representations.

Members of the town

councilÕs planning committee are to write to the county

council saying it would like the detailed plans so that members can make comments by

July 2.

The county council has budgeted £715,000 for the town centre improvements incorporating The Square and the High Street enhancements and the 20-mph zone in the centre of the town.

The Hylton Road traffic calming is programmed to take place during school holidays later this year at a cost of £50,000.