A DEAL which will pave the way for work to start on a £1.4 million facelift for a village near Selby is close to being struck.

But landowners who have not yet signed up to an agreement which will ensure the Sherburn-in-Elmet strand of the district-wide Renaissance project are now being urged to do so.

The scheme will include a new clock tower and market square for the village, as well as better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and new communal seating, lighting and paving, with planning permission and funding from development agency Yorkshire Forward having been secured.

However, although Selby District Council says the green light for work to begin is “close”, some details still need to be finalised and has sent out an appeal for those who have yet to sign the crucial land agreements to remove the remaining hurdles.

Mark Steward, the senior council officer with responsibility for the project, said: “As with all projects such as this, negotiations about land and other key parts of the deal can take some time to resolve.

“But we’re confident that we now have everything else in place to push ahead with the work as soon as the land agreements are finalised.”

Council leader Mark Crane believes the project is vital for the area. He said: “The council has been working very hard to make sure everybody is on board with this scheme which, after all, has been developed by local residents through the Town Team.

“The council has taken a number of key steps to get this off the ground, including the recent purchase of the Elmete Social Club car park to facilitate the work.

“Now we’re urging other landowners in the area to get behind the project, which will have long-term benefits for local residents and businesses.”

The revamp, based on the concept of a “continental village”, is aimed at breathing new life into the centre of Sherburn and luring more shoppers and visitors to the area.

Bryan Sissons, who chairs the Town Team group, said: “The new market square developments will create a new public space in the heart of the village, revamp the shop fronts in Low Street and improve the shopping experience, which will give everybody a greater sense of pride and place. These designs are based on what local people have said they want through the Town Team.

“Sherburn urgently needs these improvements and we must take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which will benefit the whole community for years to come.”