PROPOSALS are being drawn up to improve the centre of Trowbridge and help spruce up Fore Street for shoppers visiting the town.

Traders and residents who have said for many years the high street could do with a face lift could soon have their wish.

Chris Kirk, landscape officer at West Wiltshire District Council, has been approached by the town council to produce a new scheme for the pedestrianised area.

Any plan would include the removal of the existing planters and could see the introduction of stroking stones, animal sculptures or a roundabout and other attractions for young children.

The scheme could cost in the region of £20,000 with some funding available through the district's Five Towns Initiative.

Trowbridge Town Council's development committee has welcomed the move for improvements and has asked Mr Kirk to come up with concrete proposals for the area.

Traders and residents will then be asked for their views on the scheme.

Town development manager Daryl Saville-Brown said: "We have talked about what could be done, starting with the removal of the planters which are already broken and dirty, through to problems with pigeons and vandalism.

"We cannot keep replacing things and cannot stop people feeding the pigeons.

"It is difficult but we are talking about what can be done.

"We will be consulting people on what to do."

She said any new street furniture would be designed so that it is vandal proof and attractions would mainly be aimed at small children.

She said: "We want to make it a bit more friendly for families and people coming in to the town."

Work begins shortly in the Silver Street area of Trowbridge and it is hoped other areas to be tackled in future could include Market Street.

Town groups are also to be involved in the consultation processes for the Vision for Trowbridge scheme being undertaken by a partnership including West Wiltshire District Council and the town council.

Trowbridge 20:20, a forward looking community committee, is to look at how the Vision scheme can be extended to involve people in the town. Mrs Saville-Brown said: "We want to not only look at physical enhancements but also at what the community wants.

"We want the people of Trowbridge to become involved in this whole project."