A COUNCIL is looking for over £1.1m to redevelop routes through North Yorkshire’s county town as part of a massive transformation of the heart of the community.

Hambleton District Council is going out to consultation on plans to improve three main routes between the High Street and the old prison site which is being developed for retail and leisure use by the authority.

Director of planning Mick Jewitt told the local cabinet: “In order to maximise the economic potential of the re-development of the prison site and the relocation of the police headquarters to Alverton Court the connectivity between these sites and the town centre needs to be inviting and easily accessible to pedestrians.”

The council commissioned consultants to draw up plans for the scheme which covers three main routes, Zetland Street, and the current alleyways New Row and Central Arcade. Work will involve turning Zetland street into a single carriageway with wider pavements, planting and landscaping, disabled parking and bus stops.

The alleyways would have improved surfaces, boundary walls and entrances.

None of the sites are under the control of the district council, so negotiations will be held with North Yorkshire County Council which is responsible for Zetland Street as a main highway, and the private landowners and managers of Central Arcade and New Row.

Council leader Cllr Mark Robson said: “We have detailed designs for how these three areas could be improved, now we want to see what the county council, businesses in Zetland Street, landowners and key stakeholders think.

“This is a positive improvement of the High Street which will compliment the area of the old prison,”