A preview into what designers hope will make Sandwich a better place to live and visit is now available.

Sandwich residents can now read Rummey Design’s final report outlining its proposals to improve transport links.

These include:

• Making some of the streets equal priority zones for pedestrians and motorists
• Changing the former KCC Highways depot into a coach park
• Moving the car park on the Quay to the north of the river

A suggestion to close the Toll Bridge to traffic received overwhelmingly negative feedback.

The prospect has now been dropped. Instead, a pedestrian bridge attached to the toll bridge is proposed, to make the town more accessible on foot.

The whole scheme is expected to cost several million, paid for by a mix of public funding and grants.

A Heritage lottery bid for £750,00 is expected to be submitted in November and a Coastal Community Fund bid.

Kent County Council and Sandwich Town Council appointed the landscape architects to conduct the investigation, entitled Which Way for Sandwich.

The aim was to connect the inner and outer parts of the town and “civilise” traffic issues which residents are concerned about.

Last month, after weeks of consultation, Rummey presented its proposals to Sandwich Town Council. Members voted unanimously to take the plans forward.

The same 32-page report is available online at www.kent.gov.uk/sandwichtownreview

Principal transport planner for Kent County Council, Tim Middleton, said: “We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Sandwich consultation from July 2 to 31, 2016.

“The results have been analysed and a consultation report was passed on to Rummey Design who used it to inform their final report and masterplan.

“This has been presented to Sandwich Town Council who formally accepted it on August 22.”

Mr Middleton added: “The consultation process showed support in principle for the majority of the proposals put forward by Rummey Design.”

If the Heritage Lottery Fund bid is successful, the cash will focus on the Guildhall building and surrounding area.

A detailed design would be drawn up before a public consultation.

It is expected to take several years to complete.