Large sections of Croydon High Street are due to be pedestrianised in an effort to boost the town's night time economy.

For 12 months, High Street will be closed off to all vehicles including buses and taxis between Katharine Street and Park Street.

Councillor Mark Watson said: “This is an exciting plan for the town centre, not only will it make it easier to move around, but it allows for al fresco dining creating a new drinking and dining experience in the town centre.

“I hope the new pedestrianised space will attract new visitors from out of town to spend money in the centre, boosting local businesses and Croydon’s economy.”

As part of the project the following changes will be implemented:

• Park Street will be made one way up to its junction with St George’s Walk

• All buses that used to travel along High Street will instead travel via St George’s Walk

• The taxi rank on High Street will be relocated to Park Street

• The two bus stops on Park Street will be relocated further up Park Street to the current location of the bus stand

• The bus lane currently on Park Street will be removed to make way for all general traffic

• The existing zebra crossing and motorcycle bays on St George’s Walk will be repositioned to allow room for the new bus stand which will have moved from Park Street.

It seems not all residents are too overjoyed about the forthcoming changes, though.

Galv's Hair Studio is situated in the middle of High Street and owner Galvin Kunar doesn't think the changes "would enhance anything at all."

"It’s not too bad here at the moment, people do wander around already so I’ve got no idea why they would want to necessarily do that," he said.

"I don’t think it’ll make the slightest bit of difference to anything apart from making it more awkward for people to get home or to walk to public transport to get home.

"I don’t understand why they would do it."

Works will begin in early September to enable the new traffic operations and relocation of bus and taxi stands, with the new road layout due to go live in October. The second phase of works will be around how the newly pedestrianised area of High Street is used.

Maurice Saunders has lived in Croydon his whole life and doesn't see any benefits coming from the change.

"There are people walking down this street already," he said.

"The pavement is wide enough already so I don't see it doing much good. It doesn't really bother me though."

People have also taken to social media to air their frustrations with the changes.

"As a bus driver using park street on a hourly basis it's gonna just bottle neck the bottom of Katherine Street and be a accident waiting to happen," one person said.