A NEW-LOOK shopping street is just the start of a project to roll out ‘public realm’ changes across Marlow.

The £100k investment for new street lighting, drainage, traffic islands and a controversial pedestrian-friendly road layout will be phased across West Street and High Street in the next two years.

With plans to create a "design standard" throughout town, former Wycombe District Council leader Alex Collingwood told Marlow businesspeople this week: "Whatever we do we can mirror it across Marlow.

It is setting a design standard for the whole of the town because it’s not great at the moment.

"We want people to think it’s a great place to live, and a great place to visit and to stay."

The upgrades will be funded through council section 106 funds and contributions from Sorbon Estates, an arm of the Shanly Group.

Though still at consultation stage, Cllr Collingwood said most of the necessary permissions had already been sought.

Town council clerk Annie Jones said during the week-long consultation, 66 per cent had been in favour of the changes.

Of the third that took issue with the upgrades, it was the informal crossing outside Marks and Spencer that caused the greatest concern.

Marlow business owner Bernard Mulady was one of the protestors. He told the MFP: "One has to be on heightened alert to deal with pedestrians of all ages throwing themselves across these streets, regardless of the traffic conditions.

"The 'crossing' concept is a monstrosity and has no place in this scheme. A zebra crossing between Boot's and Cath Kidston's shop, utilising the current traffic island would be a better proposal."

Cllr Collingwood dismissed calls for a new ‘official’ pedestrian crossing on West Street, citing costs of £250,000 and insisting it would cause gridlock on Marlow’s narrow streets.

Tim Hobden, of Landmark on West Street, said the shared crossing would be dangerous, drawing a comparison with fears over the Sainsbury’s car park crossing as featured in last week’s MFP.

And he questioned whether closing half the road for its installation would be worth the traffic "chaos" it would cause.

Town clerk Mrs Jones said if the scheme gets approval, the council will aim to start the work in the Easter holidays to minimise disruption.