Salisbury Civic Society would like to see a type of "shared space" as part of plans to revamp Fisherton Street.

The society welcomed the £8.5m from the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) for the railway station forecourt and Fisherton Street areas but was "not convinced" that the proposals would meet the aims set out which included ensuring a great experience on the high street, tourist destination, bringing young people into the city and supporting business.

It said "fundamental improvements" were needed to aspects of the proposals regarding pedestrian movement, approach to vehicle traffic, and dealing with surfaces and also making Fisherton Street a more attractive route and destination

While it conceded there was "limited possibilities" for improvement of South Western Road near the railway station "given the inevitability of its use by heavy traffic from and to Churchfields" a major area for possible improvement was the removal of the parking bays on the northern side of the route, which would improve the narrow pavement.

The society suggested a different primary route into the station forecourt than the one proposed incorporating the idea of a green parklet - an area with grass, trees, seating and the potential for play equipment, which would "form an attractive welcome to the station area" from Mill Road instead of the mini-roundabout approach.

The route would have a new pedestrian crossing in Mill Road, leading pedestrians, via a stretch of footpath, directly onto the southern side of South Western Road.

Suggestions for improvements to the plans also included introducing more tree and other planting in the station forecourt; investigating all possible ways of reducing vehicle traffic in Fisherton Street; introducing a "shared space treatment" in Fisherton Street; and the incorporation of public art into the plans.

The society also expressed its disappointment over the "lack of ambition" in relation to traffic with only minor widening of pavements, and the raised tables as the only concession to greater priority for pedestrians.

Adding: "The Salisbury Central Area Framework (CAF) is referred to as part of the background to the proposals, but that document’s emphasis on people friendly streets is not carried through into the current scheme. From the CAF’s options, Fisherton Street needs to be treated as a ‘pedestrian prioritised street’."

The diversity of the shops in Fisherton Street, it said, needed to be "emphasised and enhanced". The society said: "Indications of the likely ambitions of the Future High Streets project for the street, produced some three years ago, showed it made much more attractive, brighter and encouraging, with decorated surfaces such as the railway bridge, while not changing the basic character derived from its range of uses.

"It is very disappointing to find that level of ambition abandoned, in favour of what are principally changes to surfaces, with some unspecified improvements to street furniture and lighting."

The society said a shared space in Fisherton Street would be a "fundamental contribution to making it more attractive to users."