FLOODLIGHTS on the castle could be considered for Portchester after the completion of a £400,000 village makeover.

The idea was mooted by Hampshire's environment chief Councillor Keith Estlin as he unveiled a plaque to mark the end of improvement works to the historic village.

Traditional lamp posts, York stone pavements, granite curbs and resurfaced roads have been introduced along the 18th century Castle Street in line with the village's conservation area status.

Costing £415,000, the scheme was funded by £195,000 from Hampshire County Council's Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme, £195,000 from Fareham Borough Council and £25,000 from the South East Hampshire Traffic Strategy.

Cllr Estlin, who approved the work in 2002, has been critical of English Heritage's unwillingness to help pay for the scheme. Yesterday he thanked those who made the scheme possible.

He added: "Projects like this are so important. The county places high im-portance on environmental improvements.

"It's particularly pleasing to see these improvements in Castle Street, one of the county's most important historical streets but for so long let down by poor pavements and clutter.

Firing a broadside at English Heritage, Cllr Estlin added: "I look forward to the day when the three authorities can provide this service."

Unveiling the plaque as part of one of her last official duties before the end of her term of office, Fareham mayor Marian Ellerton said the scheme was a "fantastic example" of the partnership between the Borough Council and the county council.

After the event, Portchester Castle's curator Pam Braddock did not rule out the possibility that the castle could one day be floodlit. She said there would be a lot of hurdles to overcome first.

Problems over installing vandal-proof floodlights and the cabling on a site of archaeological importance would need to be examined closely.

She added: "It has been discussed.

"I'm not saying it could never happen and I agree it would look fabulous but there are a lot of problems that would need to be resolved first. Who would pay for it and pay the bills?"