Bingley town centre has received a radical facelift after months of work to create a safer main street and the introduction of a £1 million market square.

Work to the square in front of Bingley Arts Centre is complete and the finishing touches are being made to traffic calming and parking along the main road through the town.

Residents have had a few weeks to get used to the new paving, lighting columns and seating at the square. Cycle stands have also been introduced to the site.

Existing stall holders, who are now situated at the town's shopping centre, are set to trade from the square from Easter, when the area will be officially opened by Bradford Council.

The Council is set to stump up £30,000 for 36 new temporary stalls for an outdoor market.

The completion of the site comes as Bradford Council has narrowed the main road, upgraded the pedestrian crossing near the junction of Main Street with Ferrand Lane and introduced a new crossing next to Foundry Hill.

New street lighting, on-street parking, a 20mph zone and a bus stop have also been introduced.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "Substantially it is finished, we are just clearing up over the next couple of weeks."

Bingley town centre manager David Dinsey said an event to mark the opening of the square was being planned.

He said: "I was walking on the square the other day and a woman walked over and commented on how fantastic it was.

"It was great to hear as we had some detractors in the early days but now people are saying it is looking good. Now we want to use it and we are trying to get something off the ground."

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