A frequently misused parking bay could be removed as part of a plan to breathe new life into Liss village centre.

People in Liss have been urged to have their say on proposals to create a village centre “where everyone feels safe” and “is welcome to visit and travel through”.

The placemaking proposals to revamp the Lower Mead, Station Approach, Memorial Green and Hill Brow Road sections of the village centre have been around two years in the making.

Hampshire Services – the county council’s in-house transport planning consultancy service – were commissioned by Liss Parish Council to help them make a “nicer” village centre that’s friendlier to walkers and cyclists and has a better sense of space.

Residents were asked in summer 2022 about what they like and don’t like about the village centre, with gripes about traffic, parking, empty shops and level crossing queues featuring often.

The resulting vision for a 20mph ‘Central Plaza’ zone includes a “squareabout” or roundabout, the removal of the parking layby outside Tesco Express and a wider pavement around the Whistle Stop corner. 

Proposals also include continuous footways, a narrower Station Road with wider pavements and no parking, and a resurfaced forecourt with new seating, cycle parking and tree planting.

The designs, which were produced with additional input from EHDC and the South Downs National Park Authority, aim to reduce driving speeds and encourage pedestrian movement.

An online survey opened on April 15 with a public event taking place in the village centre from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, May 18. Feedback will be crucial from residents and businesses with the parish council and members of the Hampshire Services project team in attendance.

Villagers with any questions about the scheme can also contact the parish council at [email protected] or 01730 892823.