A £600,000 scheme to upgrade three Canterbury streets gets underway on Monday.

The city council says the project will transform Best Lane, Orange Street and The Friars, extending the environmental improvements already made to the King's Mile.

In particular, it will enhance the cultural area around the Marlowe Theatre, the Beaney and other venues, in the hope that it will increase footfall and trade for businesses.

Pavements will be upgraded to high quality sawn Yorkstone paving and there will be new road surfacing similar to that in the King’s Mile and Northgate.

It is part of the council’s city centre wider transformation package to improve parking facilities and pedestrian areas, paid for with some increases in parking charges.

The work will be carried out in phases, starting with Best Lane in May and June. Orange Street will follow in June and July. It will end with The Friars and the junction between all three roads in August and into early autumn.

In addition, the project includes the extension of the city centre pedestrianised zone from St Peter’s Street along The Friars. But following public consultation, the proposed extent of this has been reduced a little and will now stretch as far as the bridge.

It is anticipated the entire scheme will be finished in November, depending on weather and other factors.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout and any road closure diversions will be signposted.

Chairman of the council’s regeneration and property committee, Cllr Ben Fitter-Harding, said: “We’re excited to be getting underway with this important scheme for the city centre.

“The Station Road West multi-storey has been granted planning permission, the ANPR system for parking is nearing the end of procurement process, we’ll be doing the Castle Street transformation in 2019 and later this year will submit the planning application to expand Wincheap park and ride.

“It’s an ambitious programme but we’re committed to making these improvements for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here and Canterbury’s many visitors.”