PLANS to create a market square in Carterton as part of a £150,000 regeneration project will be a major improvement to the town, councillors say.

The aim is that the space will create a centrepiece for the community.

Remembrance Day celebrations will also be boosted as the war memorial is to be cleaned and given a new plinth.

Town mayor, Councillor Lynn Little, said: “This will be a major asset to the town. The market square is so important.

“It will open up a lot of other things for us, including pop-up businesses, local crafts and continental markets.

“The war memorial is very significant.There are war veterans and service charities here, and on Remembrance Day it will be lovely to have our new market square where people can congregate.”

West Oxfordshire District Council gave planning permission for the new market place last month.

Oxford Mail:

The demolition work currently going on

“The war memorial is very significant.There are war veterans and service charities here, and on Remembrance Day it will be lovely to have our new market square where people can congregate.”

West Oxfordshire District Council gave planning permission for the new market place last month.

Its cabinet last week recommended funding the project using £155,000 that was provided by Morrisons when it opened a store last November.

The money will also be used to resurface the Black Bourton Road car park, create a new access between the car park and the new market square and install seats and signs along that route.

Work has began after the town council funded work for the war memorial makeover and to demolish the old Tremain Veterinary premises outside the town hall.

Mrs Little said the project would help build on the success of the Morrisons store and link the shop with Aldi in Alverscot Road.

Town clerk Caroline Ramsey said the council had been working on the project for 18 months.

She said the market used to be in Tower Square until about five years ago, when it moved to Black Bourton Road, forcing the road to close.

Mrs Ramsey said: “It does seem a shame that we’re the second biggest town in West Oxfordshire and we don’t have a market square.

Oxford Mail:

An artist’s impression of how the new market square will look

“This is an opportunity we can’t pass up to use this bit of land that’s really ideal.

“Our market provides a valuable contribution to the community but having it in the road is just daft. This will be a dedicated home.”

District council ward member for Carterton Maxine Crossland said: “I welcome the project. It’s something the town has wanted for 10 years.”

The district council will decide on the scheme at its meeting on May 14.