Commercial Road to have £300,000 makeover

Commercial Road, in Portsmouth city centre, will have its appearance improved and the area decluttered.

Portsmouth City Council will be removing the five senses sculptures and some of the wooden tree planters to make it easier for people to move around the pedestrian area.

The work will also involve moving some of the wooden seats, with all benches being refurbished.

Following this a new natural stone paving will be introduced at both ends of the precinct and some new trees will be planted.

Bike racks and sign posts will also be moved to ensure as much clear open space as possible.

Cllr Luke Stubbs, deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘While we have aspirations for a new development, that won’t happen overnight and in the meantime it is important we ensure we are making the most of what we have.

‘Commercial Road is an important shopping area for the city and this will make it a more enjoyable place for everyone.’

The project will be done in two phases with a break in the middle to avoid disruption during the Christmas shopping period.

Removal of the sculptures and tree planters and seat refurbishment will begin on Monday and take about a month, while work on the new paving will take place in the new year.

Rhoda Joseph, centre director for Cascades Shopping Centre, said: ‘Cascades is delighted to see the improvements presented to the City Centre Association taking shape as planned.

‘These works to declutter the precinct will improve the appearance of the external shopping area and make it a better place for shoppers to browse and to shop.’