A WELL-used footpath on a popular walking route into the city centre has been closed for good to allow continuing work on Worcester’s new library and history centre.

Croft Walk, which links Croft Road and The Butts, was commonly used by shoppers and university students making their way between the city centre and the St John’s campus.

The white boards along the footpath, which surround part of the new development area, have also been popular with youngsters daubing graffiti and writing messages.

The £60 million project, which will be next to the new city centre campus, will create the first joint university and public library in Europe.

It is expected to open to the public in 2011 and will include a hotel, restaurants and retail outlets.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said the completed library and history centre will provide a number of new walking routes into the city centre. The spokesman added: “The Croft Walk footpath has been closed as part of the library and history centre development.

“Once the new centre is built, people will be able gain access to the city centre via numerous walking routes which will be added as part of the development.

“Until the new centre is completed, people will have to use alternative routes.”

As well as a fully-integrated public and university library, the new development will also be home to the Worcestershire record office, the historic environment and archaeology service and the Hub customer service centre. For details visit wlhc.org.uk.