A DECISION to postpone town centre refurbishment schemes in Fairford and Lechlade has been condemned by civic leaders.

Both projects have been put on the backburner following a shake-up in Cotswold District Council's market town initiative programme.

Ten projects were put on hold because the programme ran out of cash.

Changes planned for Fairford's Market Place include altering the layout of parking, creating pedestrian areas and installing town gateways. The Lechlade scheme includes re-surfacing pavements and changing car parking by the church.

The projects were postponed because they didn't score enough points in CDC's prioritisation system.

Councillors in both towns have written to the authority to register concerns.

Speaking at last week's town council meeting, Fairford mayor Quentin Tailford said: "The whole project has been community managed and a great deal of time and effort has gone into it."

Coun Trevor Hing said: "Unless we can find a way to get up the point scoring system it is going to be very difficult to take this forward."

Earlier this year, Lechlade Town Council was granted £1,700 from CDC to commission designs for a new look Market Place.

The plans are finished and on display in the library and town council office until the end of the month.

Last year, CDC completed the first phase of work in Lechlade, and there are now fears the project could be left half done.

Council chairman Don Gillard said: "We should send a strong letter to CDC saying we are losing confidence it its ability to manage these things."