The best and worst aspects of Hertsmere’s streets have been highlighted in a handbook designed to guide any future redevelopment projects.

The Streetscape manual is produced by Hertsmere Borough Council and was formally adopted this month.

It offers an overview of the area’s shopping centres and arcades, and there are comments and recommendations on street paving, signage, street lighting, bollards, guardrails, litter bins, outdoor seating, cycle stands, advertisements, traffic management signs and other street furniture.

Its aim is to provide guidance for the borough council, Hertfordshire Highways, and parish and town councils, who are responsible for maintaining the streetscape, as well as information for private land owners, utility companies, developers and anyone with an interest in their local street scene.

The 29-page document has been produced following a six-week public consultation last year, in which residents were asked for their views.

Councillor Harvey Cohen, Conservative representative, said: "Different stakeholders have different responsibilities for Hertsmere’s shopping areas, and up until now there has been no clear guidance on how best to manage each centre.

"This manual is a one-stop shop for all those agencies. It will help to ensure there is a co-ordinated approach to development of the area, and strengthen existing partnership working.

"Tight budgets in the current economic climate mean it is unlikely a lot of these suggestions will be acted upon immediately, but this manual will prove invaluable when opportunities for improvements arise in the future.

"We are one of the only local authorities in the country to have produced a document like this, and I want to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts and comments to make this manual as comprehensive as it could be."

To read the report visit: www.hertsmere.gov.uk/planning/planningpublications.jsp.