£790,000 REFURBISHMENT SCHEME

Derby streets Ashbourne Road and Friar Gate are to undergo a £790,000 refurbishment scheme. The scheme, which will start in July and should take about six months, will involve replacing the kerbs and footways of Ashbourne Road up to Markeaton Island. Drains will be replaced between Markeaton Island and Uttoxeter Old Road. Friar Gate will also be resurfaced and lowered beneath Friar Gate bridge to improve safety for tall vehicles and buses. Also in Friar Gate, concrete kerbs will be replaced with granite so they are more in keeping with the conservation area.

The refurbishment is being funded by the Government through the Derby Joint Local Transport Plan. Brighter street lamps which are environmentally friendly and cheaper to run will also be installed along Ashbourne Road. Friar Gate and Ashbourne Road will remain open during the work, and none will be carried out during the rush hours. A city council spokeswoman said, "If we left it much longer, it would be in disrepair, so we're taking the opportunity of making it look better while we've got this grant."