Plans to build a temporary 'parklet' on Station Road have been announced by Kenilworth Town Council.

Working with Kenilworth Arts Festival, a number of newly decorated benches will be put in place in the pedestrianised area outside Pomeroy's Bistro and Zizzi.

Some of the benches will also be designed and painted with the help of Kenilworth School students.

Station Road is currently closed to traffic at the Warwick Road end as Warwickshire County Council investigates whether residents would prefer it to remain traffic free.

Town councillors are hoping to make the most of the space using the government's welcome back funding.

"We are looking to put something into the area that has been blocked off," said Cllr Michael Coker at last week's KTC meeting.

"Hopefully there will be some of the artists' benches, so there is something to see and something to do there.

"The long term objective is to see whether people like it, because if they do then there is the possibility of it becoming permanent."

Temporary parklets have popped up across Kenilworth in the last two years, including a pocket park on Station Road that was dismantled by the county council.

The arts festival was also involved in decorating Talisman Square last June, and KTC is hoping to make another dedicated space in the centre of town.

"The arts festival is going to do their beautiful benches, and some of those projects will be with the school," said town clerk Maggie Field.

"It is really nice to have the young people involved."

Station Road was closed during the first national lockdown to ease social distancing in the town centre.

But WCC has extended the temporary closure to see whether residents want it to become permanent.

The road has been closed using large plastic barrier and metal signs, but KTC has been working to put new planting boxes and signs in place to make the road look more presentable.

But WCC has stalled over removing the plastic bollards.

Cllr Coker added: "It is very disappointing actually, there have been lots of requests from the county that we should do it exactly as they wanted it so we are rather disappointed that at the last minute that has rather spoilt the event."

(Header image by John Brightley via geograph.org)

More Kenilworth news stories:

- Time is running out for plans to paint three murals in Kenilworth town centre

- Kenilworth planning roundup