- Target:
- Shropshire Council
- Region:
- United Kingdom
Since Summer 2020 Wyle Cop, High Street and Shoplatch have been closed to traffic to allow for social distancing. These measures are due to end on June 21st.
Cafes and restaurants have been able to apply for licences to put tables and chairs on the footpaths and loading bays. This has proved very popular with town footfall exceeding expectations as town re-opened after lockdown.
It is likely that both noise and air pollution levels have been reduced, and cycling and walking into the town centre has increased.
However, the times of the road closures have been changed several times, being initially from 10am to 6pm. The measures were lifted altogether during the last lockdown.
The roads are currently closed between 11am and 4pm, which offers a good level of flexibility, and allows for access to the town by all users, including deliveries, services, buses, as well as pedestrians and cyclists
The current temporary road closures are managed by council staff by manually shifting bollards and signage across the roads, twice a day, 7 days a week. These bollards are ugly, and do little to add to the attractiveness of the town centre.
Access to town centre car parking within the loop is via Town Walls, and buses are also diverted along this route. This has caused consternation amongst residents of Town Walls, who are suffering from traffic noise, fumes and possible damage to their buildings.
Bus users have been inconvenienced by routes changing and alighting points moved.
If the pedestrianisation of the Town Centre were made permanent between 11am and 4pm, 7 days per week, at certain times of year - Easter, Christmas and the summer season from 1st May to 31st August, then proper long term provision can be made to alleviate these issues by re-routing buses and through traffic. The roads would be closed by purpose made, neat methods, being more attractive and less labour intensive. Businesses would be confident to invest in quality street furniture, and a calendar of events would be able to take place in the safe space created by the absence of vehicles.
We, the undersigned, call on Shropshire Council to create a permanent, seasonal closure of Shrewsbury Town Centre from Wyle Cop to Shoplatch, between the hours of 11am to 4pm, 7 days a week for the summer season 1st May to 31st August and Easter Weekend, and the Christmas Period.
We also request Shropshire Council to undertake investigation and consultation, in a timely way, of re-routing buses and through traffic, to reduce inconvenience to residents and allow good access to the town for less mobile visitors and deliveries.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Pedestrianise Shrewsbury Town Centre petition to Shropshire Council was written by Gwen Burgess and is in the category City & Town Planning at GoPetition.