NEW Milton's street market may have to relocate or even close completely while the southern section of Station Road gets a £630,000 revamp later this year.

The Southern Market Traders Co-operative-run Wednesday market is held in the section of Station Road to undergo the makeover due to begin in mid-August and be completed in November.

Safety concerns mean the market may move to the northern section of Station Road or to Elm Avenue or close completely while the work is carried out, says the town council.

The job entails replacing the concrete paving slabs with granite paving to match the northern part of the shopping centre, which had a refurbishment completed last year.

The carriageway width will stay as it is, with the exception of a pinch point at the junction of Elm Avenue and Spencer Road, which will become a gateway to the town centre to slow traffic.

New Milton Town Partnership want to site a statue or some other sort of feature at the gateway at a cost of about £70,000, £10,000 of which will come from New Forest District Council. Another contribution will come from South East England Development Agency.

The pinch point will incorporate a pedestrian crossing Half-a-dozen new trees will be planted bringing the total to 10. Some of them will have bench seating beneath them, and existing raised flower beds will be remodelled.

Town councillors, who will meet with market organiser Paul Lewis this week, looked at the plans on Monday.

Chairman Cllr John Mason said of paramount importance was public safety but he added that it would be "unfortunate to lose the market for three months".

Cllr Goff Beck agreed and said it was important to find out how shopkeepers in Station Road north felt about having the market move there.

He was also concerned about reducing the size of the flower beds.

There had been concerns about the lack of litter bins, but now six had been negotiated into the Hampshire County Council scheme.

Cllr John Hutchins was worried having backless and armless benches would create "a skateboarders' paradise". But Cllr Beck pointed out the benches made it easier for disabled people to slide on to them.

Three councillors abstained from voting, but everyone else was in favour.