A dilapidated Marlow structure is finally set to be restored next month.

The crumbling Grade-II listed obelisk, at the top of the High Street, will be given a £20,000 makeover on August 22 after work on it was halted last year amid concerns it could cause chaos for drivers in the town centre.

Transport for Bucks was also looking at taking the relic off site for the repairs, but it has now said the work will be carried out on site with temporary traffic lights and weekday overnight closures of the road between 8pm and 5am.

The work will take three weeks to complete. It will not take place over the bank holiday weekend and restart on August 28.

Drainage work will also be carried out around the base of the obelisk to help preserve the monument.

Bucks County Council’s (BCC) deputy leader and cabinet member for transportation, Mark Shaw, supported the decision to postpone the work, saying: “TfB remains dedicated to completing the restoration of the obelisk in the shortest time possible and with the least disruption to the local area.

“Overnight working during the summer months is our best option.”

The historic structure was erected in 1822 as a waypoint marker for travelling coaches and has fallen into disrepair in recent years, with whole sections of stone lettering having crumbled and broken away.

After years of campaigning from The Marlow Society and councillors, BCC finally agreed to carry out the necessary repair work to the landmark last year.