A plan has been put forward to replace paving stones along the length of Cheltenham's Promenade with tarmac, to make the surface easier to repair whilst ensuring access for vehicles is maintained.
Gloucestershire County Council shared its plans to resurface part of the Promenade with Cheltenham Borough Council at a meeting this March 2025, according to local democracy reporter Carmelo Garcia.
The proposal involves the removal of some of the paving stones outside Cavendish House and replacing them with a buff coloured tarmac strip — similar to works recently carried out at the Strand — with bollards either side preventing vehicles from driving on the remaining flagstones.
Council leader Stephen Davies said the new surface would ensure 'smoother' access for vehicles using the Promenade for 'vibrant' town centre events such as the Christmas market, while making it easier and more cost effective to repair — with £100,000 having been spent on repairing damaged paving this year alone.
He said: 'The option that we have chosen provides an attractive, hard-wearing surface that’s smoother and more accessible to visitors.
'The materials and repairs will be easier to source, so utility companies will be able to provide an instant repair following their work and this will also be more cost-effective in the long-term.'
Cheltenham Borough Council has welcomed the invitation to engage with the county council over the plan, saying that addressing the quality of paving can 'support local economic growth by attracting new businesses and visitors'.
But the proposal has drawn scrutiny from Cheltenham Civic Society, which says it represents an attempt at 'fixing Cheltenham on the cheap'; and that removing the flagstones would compromise 'a little bit more of the town's heritage'.
Izaac Tailford of Cheltenham Borough Council said: 'We recognise the many functions that areas such as the Promenade need to play in our town; and have been lobbying Gloucestershire County Council to ensure the multi-functional use is maintained so markets, events and wider activities can continue.
'We do accept that to do this, there are challenges and conflicts but it is important we maintain and where possible, raise the bar in respect of quality.'
The civic society says it will mount a campaign in the coming weeks, with the aim of preventing the works from going ahead.
