A multi-million pound vision to transform two Nottinghamshire towns has been roundly welcomed by residents.
Broxtowe Borough Council has laid out its vision for Kimberley and Eastwood, including a vast array of improvements to the town centres.
Residents described the existing town centres as "drab" and welcomed the vision as a way for them to be livened-up.
Kimberley residents have before had their say on what they want to see, following the announcement the town would be receiving up to £20m from the Government's Levelling-up Towns Fund.
The exact amounts, however, are yet to be disclosed.
It is set to be further detailed in the Government's Levelling-Up white paper, which was delayed from the end of last year until 'sometime' this year.
According to new council documents both towns will draw inspiration from Nottingham city centre's recently-revived Carrington Street, where shop frontages have been restored.
The plans, which will be discussed during a Broxtowe Borough Council jobs and economy committee meeting on January 27, suggest the "re-introduction of the Victorian high street".
This will be achieved through new lighting, paving, furniture and shop front designs.
The area around war memorial will be transformed alongside a new town square with a covered 'cupola' - similar to the bandstand at Nottingham Castle.
According to the documents a new open-air market could be established alongside a community hub and town centre park.
This could replace the existing Kimberley Cricket Club pavilion while the two cricket pitches would be relocated to land near the Swingate water tower in Babbington Lane.
The over-arching vision is to deliver a new town centre plan which links the leisure centre, a new community hub, business centre and parkland with an enhanced town centre square and public realm, the council says.
Inspiration for the community hub will be drawn from the University of Nottingham's Cripps Health Centre, which features GP consulting rooms, a four-bed observation room, rooms for physiotherapy, enhanced procedures, treatment and mental health, a seminar room, eight dental treatment spaces and a commercial pharmacy.
Eastwood will get similar improvements on top of a refurbishment of Durban House to become an education and well-being hub.
Residents in the borough welcomed the vision.
Andrea Smart, 64, a hairdresser from Giltbrook, told Nottinghamshire Live: "It does need livening up, it really does.
“It needs to become more up to date. Apart from Sainsbury’s and a couple of shops there’s no need to come to Kimberley.
“If they’re going to do it they may as well go to town on it."
Debora Alvey, 60, of Kimberley, said: "I think it’s a good idea as long as you're not losing things.
“They kept speaking about closing down the leisure centre or the library. It sounds like a good idea to liven it up. It’s a small place and shops close down.
“It’s certainly a community place. I think they’re trying to and are doing their best to update things. So I think it’s got to move a little bit. I think it will bring the community together when you’ve got community spirit and places.
“People are more likely to look after the place and take care of it."
Friends Diane Fox and Rachel Widdowson agreed the towns had become somewhat "run-down".
Diane Fox, 77, of Nuthall, said: "I think it’s a good idea- it’s a bit run down here (Kimberley).
“That’s all a good idea if they do it. It does need smartening up, it looks a bit drab.”
And Rachel Widdowson, 45, a carer from Chilwell, added: "All the shops. We could do with more shops.
“It will be a lot busier because it has died off. It will bring more life into the place.”
Chairman of the jobs and economic committee at Broxtowe Borough Council, councillor Tim Hallam, said: “It’s important that we take up all opportunities to invest in our local area for the future, including taking advantage of possible funding like the Levelling Up Fund.
"As chair I am eager to work alongside residents and officers to develop and support the transformation of Kimberley and to see how local businesses will flourish and grow due to the levelling up fund in a post-pandemic world."
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