A BOLD vision to improve a key gateway to Stroud town centre is being planned – and the public can take a look at the designs. 

Stroud District Council is holding drop-in sessions at Wallbridge today, Friday, May 20 from 3pm to 7pm and on Saturday, May 21 from 9am to 1pm for the public to see landscape designs for the area, talk to architects about their proposals and give feedback.

Wallbridge is an important gateway to the town centre by road and from various walking and cycle routes which cross the space and where the Thames and Severn Canal and Stroudwater Navigation join.

An SDC spokesperson said: "While the area is currently used for events and gatherings, its potential to provide a strong sense of arrival to the town, to welcome people, to be a space for picnics, festivals and events and an attractive place for people to walk, cycle and travel by boat needs to be maximised.

"The district council’s bid to the Levelling Up Fund in July this year is an opportunity to change that and transform this canal side location into a welcoming green space where people will want to spend more time.

"A bold landscape concept design has been prepared in conjunction with stakeholders to transform this public realm and to also create improved routes through the space from the south and west of the town through the provision of new, signalised, pedestrian crossings that will provide access to the town centre via the newly designed green space."

Council leader Doina Cornell added: "Wallbridge is an important place, steeped in heritage with the canal running through and the old brewery walls in evidence but is currently unloved, car-dominated and in need of revitalising.

This is a great opportunity to transform it into a vibrant, attractive green space to give people a greater sense of pride in their town and encourage more people into the town centre which in turn will boost the local economy and hence support jobs."

Feedback can also be left at wallbridge commonplace until Monday, May 30.

SDC is the lead partner in drawing up a Levelling Up bid, with partners including Stroud's MP, Stroud Town Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Network Rail, Great Western Railway, GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and Stroud & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce.