Chamber of Commerce members met on Thursday night to provide input into the draft streetscape master plan proposed by Warren Shire Council’s Town Improvement Committee in conjunction with a study team from Environmental Partnership.

Councillor Kevin Taylor and economic development officers Alison Ruskin Rowe and Sarah Slack-Smith walked chamber members through the plan with the group then proposing its submission.

Council has already moved to spruce up the town by removing a “dog’s breakfast” of old trees and planting uniform Manchurian Pears, fixing up old signage and working with businesses to encourage replacement of broken windows or unsightly shopfronts.

A total of $20,000-$30,000 is put into the kitty each year for town planning and the council committee which reformed 18 months ago is hoping to concentrate initial efforts on the roundabout and adjoining central business district.

Mrs Ruskin Rowe said the garden bed concept involved removing some footpath pavers and replacing them with planters that would run parallel to the street as well as areas of grasses possibly incorporating stepping stones. The concept will be developed in stages with testing for drainage, vandalism and heat tolerance.

“Bollards are proposed on (pavement) corners near the roundabout, with turf landscape and areas of stone walling to provide something unique to Warren,” said Mrs Ruskin Rowe.

“It is also proposed to remove the light on the roundabout and replace it with lights on each corner that would include banners to indicate the town centre.”

After member discussion, chamber president Trevor Wilson proposed four lights would be preferable to two and also said it was important to discourage loitering by not providing “too comfy” congregation points.

“Grassed areas may create a maintenance concern, particularly in heavy traffic areas,” said Mr Wilson. “Our submission should also include minimal bench seating located away from flowerbeds and business entry points; with further consultation before seating is put in place.”

Mrs Ruskin Rowe said another aspect of the plan was to make the CBD buildings as attractive as possible, including improving empty shopfronts and offering a colour palette of paint schemes.

On behalf of the chamber Mr Wilson endorsed the master plan as “a great thing for Warren” with consultation at each stage seen as the key to success.