Broad Street retaining wall essential repair work to start in Ludlow

Work to repair the retaining wall which supports the upper footpath in front of 35 Broad Street, Ludlow, is due to start on 12 September 2011.

The proposed work, which is expected to take around nine weeks to complete, will involve taking down and rebuilding the wall which currently has a significant bulge and is generally in a poor condition.  At the same time, work will be carried out to re-pave the upper footpath in front of 35 to 37 Broad Street. This is necessary because many of the slabs are currently very slippery when wet.

To carry out the proposed work safely, it will be necessary to close the eastern end of Silk Mill Lane to traffic for the duration of the work. It will therefore be closed to traffic for up to nine weeks starting on 12 September.
 
When the eastern end of Silk Mill Lane is closed, traffic will be diverted along other local routes. Because of the narrow nature of some of the roads, separate diversion routes will be signed for eastbound and westbound traffic.
 
Access for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists to the full length of Silk Mill Lane will be available throughout the proposed work.

When the work is underway, Broad Street, including the Broad Gate, will remain open to traffic under traffic light control. However, there will be some temporary loss of parking spaces in the vicinity of the work.
 
Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said:

“It is appreciated this essential work may cause some inconvenience and every reasonable effort will be made complete it as soon as reasonably possible.

“We have also ensured that these essential works take place after the town’s Food and Drink Festival so that they do not cause any further disruption to residents, businesses and visitors.”

Rosanna Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow north, said:

“I am pleased that we are able to carry out these works as they will preserve the unique character of Broad Street.”

The rebuilt wall, which is part of the curtilage of a listed building, will be similar in appearance to the existing one.