A MAJOR revamp of Westbury Market Place moved a step closer this week when councillors backed a scheme for transforming the historic part of the town.

If the project, estimated to cost around £480,000, goes ahead, it will see the Market Place made more pedestrian friendly with car parking spaces moved from the centre to the edges of the square, the planting of trees and other changes such as new street furniture and space for a civic feature.

Councillors backed their preferred scheme at an extraordinary meeting of Westbury Town Council on Monday.

Despite a handful of comments about concerns over the new car parking layout and the provision of space for vehicles unloading supplies for businesses in the Market Place, the vast majority of comments were positive.

Cllr Georgie Denison-Pender said: "I think this (the project) is really exciting.

"I'm very excited by it and hope it comes to bear."

The scheme is part of the Vision for Westbury project, and in 2003/04 developing the Market Place was identified as being key to developing the whole town.

A number of provisional designs were produced and when the designs were whittled down to just three, a public consultation took place, with a questionnaire and brochure being sent to 8,000 homes and businesses in Westbury.

One of the options was for a radical new design, another was to make changes but keep the area looking like a traditional market place, while the third was to make very few changes. The traditional market place was the scheme favoured by the public and the one that got the support of councillors.

The scheme is being part funded by the Five Towns Initiative, a collaboration between West Wiltshire District Council and the town councils, but if it is to become a reality, further funding will be needed from Wiltshire County Council.

Adam Nardell, regeneration project manager at West Wiltshire District Council, made a presentation on the favoured scheme at the extraordinary meeting on Monday and answered councillors' questions about the development.

Cllr Caroline Mitchell said: "I think we would be very foolish if we don't resolve to adopt this option, which was chosen by the people of Westbury."

The council voted unanimously in favour of welcoming their chosen option and working with the county council to make it a reality.

More detailed design plans will now be created, with the hope of finishing the design process by next summer, which could see the transformation of Market Place happen in 2009.