LONG awaited improvements to the Chippenham Town Bridge will go ahead with an extra £25,000 funding boost.

North Wiltshire District Council's Chippenham area committee agreed on Monday to earmark the funds to beautify the bridge at the bottom of the High Street.

Streetlights for the bridge piers have been delivered and are due to be erected this month. Stone cladding of the piers will follow, but the extra funds were needed to pay for ballustrading.

The railing design and costs were calculated three years ago so a design review will now be needed.

The community capital budget provided £10,000 with £15,000 from the environmental enhancements budget.

The district council will also look for partnership funding for the work.

"It would make good sense to progress with it this year to secure this additional budget," said Coun Ruth Coleman.

Coun Monica Blake said: "This project first started three or four years ago and we have pushed it back. We can't go on like this ad infinitum."

The Chippenham area committee also agreed in principal to give financial support to three other projects a traffic calming scheme for Biddestone, a young people's meeting place on Cepen Park South and a children's play area at Sutton Benger.