A TOWN centre is to get a new look after councillors approved major changes to a main road.

York Road in Hartlepool will undergo a major reconstruction after it was decided to agree plans including narrowing the carriageway and relocating bus stops.

A number of residents and groups had raised concerns about the proposals, but the council yesterday concluded that many of the problems had been resolved.

These included objections from Stagecoach buses and Hartlepool Cycle Forum which were, in part, included in a revised plan for the road.

The owners of Dorothy Parker hairdressers, on York Road, also complained that a bus stop outside the salon would deter customers because people would stare into the shop.

There were also concerns about pollution from exhaust fumes and litter.

Despite a council engineer concluding that the bus stop could not be moved, councillors agreed to change its position when they approved the plans.

The full list of changes to the road, which are expected to cost £600,000 is:

l Road to be narrowed by 7.3 metres

l Pedestrian crossing moved from outside Yorkshire Bank to opposite the ramp

l Bus stops relocated in lay-bys on either side of pedestrian crossing

l New pedestrian crossing near South Road

l Disabled parking bays at the west side of York Road

l Banning of right turn out of York Road except for buses, taxis and bikes

l New controls for on-street waiting

l New road-side bollards and barriers to improve safety

l Introduction of cycle parking

l Removal of layby outside Co-op store, on Victoria Road

l Improved street lighting and bus facilities.