A town centre bus station – which will be transformed into a new public park – will close this weekend ahead of renovation works.

Folkestone bus station in Bouverie Square is due to be returned to its former use as a community space, with new seating, lawns, walkways, a children’s play area and trees part of the plans.

It is hoped a cafe will be introduced in the future.

It will be a stark difference to how the grey plot looks now, which is used to park Stagecoach buses and for National Express services.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC), which is behind the project, say the park will create a new 'green heart' for the town.

To allow the work to be carried out, new temporary bus stops will be in operation in Middelburg Square from Sunday (September 21) following the closure of the bus station on Saturday (September 20).

National Express and other coach services will relocate to the bus stop at the back of Sainsbury's on Bouverie Road West.

Stagecoach employees will also be present on the ground to help guide passengers through the transition.

Visit here to find your stop.

The project is part of the Folkestone – A Brighter Future scheme, backed by £20 million of government Levelling Up cash, which is designed to improve the town centre and road network around Folkestone Central station.

Contractor Jackson Civil Engineering (JCE) is working on the scheme, which will see the northern arm of Middelburg Square - which is currently one-way - become two-way with the aim of improving the flow of traffic.

Other changes include the infilling of two subways in Middelburg Square, construction of a new footbridge from Guildhall Street North, and a 20mph speed limit from Cheriton Road and Cheriton Gardens through to Shellons Street.

The whole project is expected to be completed next summer.

The authority says the new linear layout of the bus station, down Shellons Street, will be safer for pedestrians, while the completed scheme will offer real-time digital information on bus arrival times and new shelters with roofs.

The authority states: “The new linear layout of the bus station will actually improve pedestrian safety as it will greatly reduce the need for pedestrians to cross the carriageway between buses as they do in the current bus station.

“In addition, the removal of the one-way system will limit the flow of traffic along the southern side of Middelburg square where the new bus stops will be located.

“The new bus station will also better accommodate people with additional accessibility needs as the linear design accommodates newer, larger buses and allows the buses to get closer to the kerb reducing the gap that bus users need to navigate when boarding.”