EIGHT weeks of city centre roadworks get underway starting today (Monday).

It will mean changes for drivers and for people who use taxis as the next phase of work to improve the city centre streets gets underway.

Contractors will be busy re-surfacing, adding new lights and seating around The Cross area of the city centre.

Changes to Worcester taxi ranks

There will be changes to the city centre's taxi ranks while the work is ongoing.

During the next two months, The Cross taxi rank will be mostly closed for seven days a week.

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The St Swithin's Street taxi rank will be unavailable between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

There will be a temporary taxi rank in Angel Street between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

There will be no vehicle access to St Swithin's Street from Trinity Street between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Trinity Street, from the junction with Queen Street, will be closed to vehicles during these times.

Why are there roadworks in Worcester city centre?

The roadworks are part of a major regeneration of Worcester's city centre after the city council successfully secured £17.9 million funding from the Future High Streets Fund.

It will include the transformation of the northern end of the city centre, and will see the re-opening of a restored Scala Theatre and Corn Exchange and the creation of new homes for first time buyers.

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The area currently has a high proportion of empty shops, a poor quality street environment and is known for anti-social behaviour.

The funding from the Future High Streets Fund will restore its one-time status as an active, vibrant part of the city.

Over the next five years it will be regenerated to create a diverse leisure, residential and cultural offer with new jobs being created and fresh life breathed back into its historic buildings.

What Worcester City Council is saying about the works

Chair of Worcester City Council's Place and Economic Development sub-committee, Cllr Lucy Hodgson, said: "We're delighted to see this improvement programme taking shape and making the city centre a more attractive place for all.

"We've had many positive comments during the work so far and hope that residents will bear with us while the work to upgrade The Cross area is completed."