Ashburton District residents are being invited to have their say on a range of proposals to help rejuvenate Baring Square East, with consultation open until Wednesday 16 September.

The Council is planning to revitalise the area in line with the new Ashburton Library & Civic Centre project which begins construction at the end of the year on the corner of Baring Square East and Havelock Street.

Baring Square East will sit opposite the new facility and the Council is wanting to support its use as a public space and encourage more pedestrian movement between the Square and the Library & Civic Centre.

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown says various features in Baring Square East pay homage to the district's past and the Council is proposing to build on this legacy with an eye for the future.

"Baring Square East is a real focal point for Ashburton. The clock tower, John Grigg statue, Boer War memorial and concrete arbors - what we informally call the whalebones, all celebrate parts of our heritage. In recent times, it's also been used for events.

"With an important community facility going up next door, we want to make sure that the Square is appropriately integrated into the development in a way that celebrates our past with some contemporary elements."

The Council is proposing to make the road on Baring Square East a one-way, 30km/h street with pedestrian-friendly access and short-term parking for visitors.

It is also proposing to create a 'civic plaza' to link the Square and the Ashburton Library & Civic Centre entrance; replace the existing mix of different paving with basalt paving; raise the water feature stepping slabs to be the same level as the surrounding paving; upgrade the existing timber seats; and simplify the planting around the Square.