Improvement works on closed section of Station Road to begin this January
Planned improvements along the closed section of Station Road are due to get underway this January, a Kenilworth councillor has confirmed.
County councillor Rik Spencer said work to raise the pavement at the former Warwick Road junction, replace the temporary planters with permanent ones, and install proper traffic bollards will all start this month – weather depending.
The redundant former signage will also be replaced and the tarmac road surface - which still has the old road markings on it - will be "replaced with a different material to create a more inviting and pedestrian-friendly environment".
"This really is a marmite subject, as everyone I've spoken to about the road closure either has a negative comment or a positive one, there really isn't a consensus of opinion," Cllr Spencer said.
"However, the fact is, like it or not, this small section of Station Road has a permanent road closure notice in place, so it won't ever be reopened.
"My thought process is one of, let's try and make the area more appealing rather than just leaving it to become an eyesore over time.
"Once completed, I truly hope visitors to our town centre will enjoy the space."
Station Road first closed in 2020 as a temporary measure during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow better social distancing by preventing pedestrians crowding near the junction with Warwick Road.
Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) then requested the closure become permanent.
A consultation was launched through Warwickshire County Council and the closure was signed off in 2023.
KTC then used funding through the EU's 'Welcome Back' scheme to install the current 'beautiful benches' and planters along the road as a temporary solution to improve the aesthetics of the road.
With the road having been closed for nearly five years but no permanent remodelling completed, Cllr Spencer said he had made it a priority to sort the issue.
The Conservative county councillor – who also used to sit on KTC – said he was grateful to the town council for agreeing to maintain the new flower beds which will form part of the scheme to create a green corridor along the length of Station Road and through the town centre.
He said the changes to the closed section have taken into consideration the different levels, building access and drainage for the closed section of Station Road.
"These changes are intended to make the area a more pleasant place for shoppers and passers-by offering a space to relax and enjoy the surroundings," Cllr Spencer added.
"The raised pavement on Warwick Road will also create a smoother and more connected flow between Abbey End and Talisman Square for pedestrians, enhancing the overall shopping experience in Kenilworth's town centre."
Station Road has also been identified as a key issue for improving accessibility for disabled people in Kenilworth by KTC.
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