FOOTPATH improvements, new seating and plants form part of proposed improvements in Skelmanthorpe.

The area was given a £100,000 boost in 2008 and £58,000 of that has already been spent.

Next week Kirklees Cabinet will be asked to approve plans for the remaining £42,000 to be spent in Skelmanthorpe.

Among the priorities for funding are:

Improvements to link path to Elm Street – partial resurfacing, removal of street and planting new trees

Resurfacing access to the community centre and adding a handrail

Refurbishing the seat near the Commercial Street/Queen Street bus stop

Relocating the existing village notice board to outside the Co-op

A new village map board

Some of the £42,000 will also be spent on improving the fencing, steps and handrails in the community centre car park, providing shrubs outside the Co-op and professional fees and contingencies.

The council’s report, to be presented to Cabinet, says: “The aim of the programme is to improve the image and attractiveness of local centres through a package of public realm and shop front improvements.

“One of the council’s Corporate Priorities for 2012/13 is to ‘ensure vibrant and thriving town centres’.

“Also, the council’s Integrated Investment Strategy, which supports the council’s ambition to ‘lead Kirklees out of recession’, identifies that one of the key assets of Kirklees is that its settlements are attractive and distinctive – the numerous small towns and villages have a unique and distinctive attraction for visitors and residents alike.

“One aim of the strategy is to ‘raise the bar’ and this in part involves ‘building on our key assets’ including our good quality of life, our successful university, our varied green spaces, our diverse and talented people and our distinctive built and cultural heritage’.”

If approved by Cabinet next Tuesday, February 26, design and procurement work will begin later this month and work will take place from March to June.

As part of the initial funding phase one saw block paving work done around the bus stop on Commercial Street and decorative embellishments added to the street lights. A further £20,000 was spent on a shop front improvement grant with 11 businesses applying for a grant.