SHOPPERS will get a taste of plans to put pedestrians first when Huddersfield goes green this weekend.

Byram Street will be transformed into The Green when tarmac disappears under turf for three days.

Street theatre, musical entertainment, dancing and an outdoor cafe will feature in the event, which gets under way tomorrow.

Kirklees Council officials believe the event will give people an idea of what Huddersfield town centre could be like if proposals are adopted to put pedestrians first.

A document drawn up by urban designers David Locke Associates, who are based at Milton Keynes, suggests giving pedestrians priority on most town centre routes - and parts of the ring road.

Council deputy leader Clr John Smithson said: "The vision presented is exciting, showing how we might be able to develop the town over the next 10 to 20 years.

"It is a set of ideas and concepts, all with the aim of enhancing and promoting the assets of the town, building on our achievements and embracing new opportunities to create the town of the future we all want to see."

Clr Smithson said features such as block paving, trees and shrubs, the use of different surfaces and doing away with pavements could be used to put pedestrians first and make sure "the car becomes secondary".

Such a move would give Huddersfield stylish streets comparable with the best in Europe, added Clr Smithson.

Other proposals include converting the disused railway warehouse and the area around St George's Square into an arts and culture quarter, with attractive open spaces as venues for festivals and events.

Byram Street will be turfed over tonight and a temporary stage will be built. Tomorrow will include music from Opera North's Cafe Band, Pan pipe melodies from South American band Mezcla and salsa dancing.

Sunday's events will include Marsden Brass Band and street entertainment.

Monday will see Byram Street become an arena for a cyclists' roadshow, to mark European In Town Without Your Car Day.

John Griffiths, head of Kirklees Council's economic development service, said: "The Green gives us an ideal opportunity to stage an event right in the centre of the town, in a place more used to traffic."