Work starts early in the new year on making the one-way system in Bungay town centre permanent.

Councillors responsible for roads and transport in Suffolk have pledged support for local businesses to make sure the effect of roadworks is minimised.

Work will start on Monday, January 6 and last for 15 weeks.

St Mary's Street will become a better environment for pedestrians, vehicles and other road users with courtesy crossing points, new footways and new paving.

Other improvements include the widening of existing pavements in St Mary's Street and Trinity Street and new footways in Wharton Street and Lower Olland Street; Trinity Street will be completely resurfaced; all new paving in St Mary's Street will be sandstone and a 'golden' gravel-rolled surface will also be provided in the Market Place.

Not all areas of the town will be affected at the same time and the works will take place in five phases:

Phase 1: Closure of Lower Olland Street and Wharton Street, starting January 6 for four weeks.

Phase 2: Closure of Trinity Street, starting January 30 for one week.

Phase 3: Closure of Upper Olland Street, starting February 6 for one week.

Phase 4: Closure of St Mary's Street, starting February 13 for eight weeks.

Phase 5: Closure of Market Place, starting April 10 for 1 week (closure for one night).

Throughout the construction phases, there will be two members of staff on site coordinating traffic management, minimising disruption of deliveries to businesses and helping customers with loading issues.

Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for roads and transport, said: 'I fully appreciate that these works will mean we have to introduce some short-term access arrangement to some of the shops which front these narrow streets. We will do everything in our power to ensure that access for deliveries, collections, and indeed shoppers is maintained – even if it is slightly different from normal.

'We will work out a plan that suits people.'

Since September 2012, a one-way system has been in place along Trinity Street, Wharton Street and St Mary's Street.

Judy Cloke, mayor of Bungay, said: 'I fully support the efforts of Suffolk Highways to minimise any disruption in Bungay and look forward to seeing our enhanced environment. We have worked hard with the county council to make sure the scheme delivers the maximum benefit for the town.'

The proposals are now available to view at Bungay Community Library and the Waveney local office in Bungay.