A MULTI-million pound programme to upgrade roads and services for more than 300 homes at Boscombe Down is to start next year.

Contractors are preparing to move in on the huge former Ministry of Defence married quarters estate to widen roads, put in new pavements, refurbish sewers and water mains and put communication cables underground.

The upgrading will take about a year, as roads will be individually improved to prevent mass disruption.

Most of the houses are now privately owned but some have been taken over by Salisbury District Council and others by housing associations.

Roads affected are Cadnam Crescent, Mil-ton Road, Imber Ave-nue, Beaumont Drive, Ringwood Avenue and Lyndhurst Road.

News that the long-discussed project is finally under way was given to Amesbury Town Council at its monthly meeting last week.

Cllr John Noeken said that Salisbury MP Robert Key had received confirmation from Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Lewis Moonie, that construction work would commence mid-2002.