ONE of Fareham's major shopping streets is in line for a face-lift after residents said it should be next for a spruce-up.

Fareham council chiefs pledged to revamp "tired" West Street following a consultation with residents and businesses.

The demand for environmental improvements along the long street was highlighted as a result of the consultation, which was held in order to formulate a Vision and Action Plan for the area.

Now deputy council leader and executive member for planning and transportation, Arthur Mandry, has confirmed that it is a question of 'when' and not 'if' the shopping and business area will get a makeover.

He said: "West Street is still a big priority and we will be looking at ways to come up with funds to make environmental improvements."

He added: "In the consultation, people said that there needed to be improvements to the footways and individual shop fronts.

"They also said something needed to be done about the traffic in West Street and car parking, which isn't particularly good for businesses that face onto West Street.

"The feeling was that West Street is a gateway into Fareham and needs to be given a bit of a face-lift. Other parts of the town have been refurbished and West Street needs to be focused on now."

Originally, the council thought funding for the project would come mainly from developers when the Light Rapid Transport System (LRT) between Gosport and Fareham went ahead.

However, due to the recent uncertainties surrounding the LRT, council chiefs are racking their brains to find other ways to fund the spruce-up.

The area's action plan will be influenced to a certain degree by the outcome of a transport review for the town under the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Team.

Councillor Mandry said he was confident a solution to find the money to refurbish West Street would be found.

"We will have to seek out other sources of funding," he said.

"We are looking for funding in the capital programme and once Market Quay is finished, we will see if there are any funds left over from that. We also need to talk to the county council."

A meeting between West Street businesses and residents and council chiefs to discuss plans for the future of the busy road is to be arranged in the next few weeks.