Cheltenham Civic Society has prepared a town centre manifesto for all candidates in the forthcoming local elections.

The 10-point manifesto calls for the preparation of a proper plan for the town centre.

Other demands include:

• Handover of the paving outside John Lewis and adoption by the highways authority

• Resurfacing of The Strand and Cambray Place

• Repair of the paving in the Promenade, including reinstatement of the bollards which protected the pedestrianised area

Having campaigned for more than four years to get both Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council to fulfil their responsibilities and bring the public realm back up to a good standard, the society is now taking its campaign directly to the candidates standing in the local elections.

Andrew Booton, Cheltenham Civic Society chair, said: "We are tired of excuses for letting the streets fall into such disrepair, for failing to make utility companies reinstate pavements properly, for failing to act against landlords who do not keep their buildings in good repair, and failing to stamp out the antisocial behaviour that blights the town centre.

"Bath, Oxford and other prestigious towns and cities have not allowed their town centres to get into such a state. In fact, they have policies to maintain and improve them. Cheltenham has not adopted best practice and is losing footfall as a result. We are spiralling downhill fast.

"If candidates in these elections commit to our manifesto, everyone will know where they stand. But if they don't feel able to support every point, we'd like to understand why. That way we can look forward to working constructively with them once they are in office."