Work on a £188,000 scheme to pedestrianise a busy city centre street will begin in January ahead of the opening of the renovated Slatters hotel.

The project will involve extending the pedestrian zone in St Margaret's Street in Canterbury, where the hotel is located, by 70 metres from the junction of Hawk's Lane to Watling Street.

The new 'public realm' area will include improved street lighting, a surface upgrade and retractable bollards, which will block off traffic between 10.30am and 4pm.

A recent public consultation about the scheme, which is being funded by developers, including £75,000 from those behind the Slatters project, received mixed responses, with the majority welcoming the plan.

But concerns have been raised about the two-way use of Hawks Lane and blue badge holders being prevented from parking in St Margaret's Street.

Richard Moore, head of transportation and environment, says a safety audit did not flag up any issues with the two-way use being introduced.

'This is a really good regeneration of that area...' - Cllr Ben Fitter-Harding

In a report due to be discussed tonight (Thursday) by the regeneration and property committee, he says some of the objectors stated if the Hawks Lane and St Margaret’s Street junction could remain open outside of the pedestrian-only hours then the vast majority of traffic movements would not be affected.

"As such it is proposed to modify the proposals that went out to public consultation and not to permanently close this junction," he said.

"The pedestrian zone would still be extended and vehicle access would be controlled at this point with a rising bollard which would be provided as part of the city centre hostile vehicle mitigation project."

The extended pedestrian zone, which will stretch along the front of the new £10 million hotel, is hoped to be completed ahead of the opening in spring.

Global hotel chain Hampton by Hilton is lined up to be the brand running the establishment.

Chairman of the council’s regeneration and property committee, Cllr Ben Fitter-Harding, says it is important the street scene matches the investment being made in that part of the city.

"This is a really good regeneration of that area," he said.

"There is also the big safety element in terms of the footfall at the front of the new hotel."

Similar work was completed recently in Orange Street, The Friars and Best Lane.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury