WORK is under way in Marlowes to build a new outdoor food court ahead of the Jubilee and Olympics.
The ‘street market style’ dining area will feature different food vendors, seating and a large, ‘sail-style’ canopy.
To add a stylish twist there will be special lighting, a large planter and the food kiosks will be made out of modern stainless steel.
Councillor Stephen Holmes, cabinet member for planning and regeneration at Dacorum Borough Council, said: “The food court is part of our Hemel Evolution town centre regeneration plan to breathe new life into Hemel Hempstead.
“We want to provide a dedicated space for people to sit and socialise and also to help local shops by encouraging footfall.”
The council has ploughed around £350,000 into the project, which is part of wider planned improvements to the town centre.
Work to improve the old town starts in the autumn, including making it one way, while a scheme has been unveiled to knock down the civic centre and the college in Marlowes and replace them with a Morrisons supermarket and new campus.
As part of the plans a competition has been launched to temporarily transform the Market Square.
Council chiefs want creative types to come up with maze designs for the space.
The floor maze will be a temporary improvement while long-term future regeneration plans are drawn up.
To enter, design a maze to fit a floor space of 27 metres by 14 metres. The width of all paths within the maze should be around 60cm.
You can use up to four different colours and additional information can be included in the maze, like Hemel Hempstead’s history, local people and stories – whatever you think visitors might be interested in.
Send entries by email, as a jpeg or PDF, to dave.wells@dacorum.gov.uk or post to Dave Wells, Dacorum Borough Council, Civic Centre, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1HH.
The closing date is 5pm on Monday, June 18.
Templates can be downloaded at www.dacorum.gov.uk or collected from the civic centre in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring.