A KEY entrance to Basingstoke town centre has been given a new lease of life as part of a project by the council to make the area 'look its best'.

The targeted clean-up was the first step as part of a phased programme of works by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to improve the look of the area between Basingstoke train station and The Malls.

Led by the council’s Make a Difference team, work included trimming hedges, shrubs, plants, and tree branches to improve visibility, as well as removing weeds, leaf collecting, sweeping and litter picking.

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According to the council, the next phase of work will include further hedge maintenance, removing low-hanging tree branches and regenerating saplings in the area connecting the train station and Vyne Road.

As part of the council’s plans to revitalise the town centre, it will also be exploring how the area could be redesigned in the future to ‘ensure it is an inviting area for residents and visitors’ and tackle issues such as antisocial behaviour.

Cabinet member for major projects and regeneration Cllr Onnalee Cubitt said: “Our cabinet is passionate about our focus to make Basingstoke and Deane a place where people can have pride in their communities and the borough. 

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"We want our residents to be proud to live in our borough and know that clean and tidy streets and open spaces are super important to them.

“The entrance to the train station is the first impression that we get when coming by train, so it is vital that this area looks its best and provides an inviting welcome for everyone.

"This targeted work to tidy up the area is an important first step as part of a wider project to look at long-term options for how the area could be redesigned.

“We want to support the vibrancy of the town centre. I am so excited, and I can’t thank our teams enough for their hard work. They have done a fantastic job in tidying up this space.”