Few more weeks to go to UK’s largest celebration of people in recovery
There are just a few more weeks to go before Shrewsbury hosts one of the biggest celebrations of people in recovery, in the UK.
UK Recovery Walk logo
The UK Recovery Walk 2018 will be held in Shrewsbury from 11am on Saturday 8 September 2018, when more than 5,000 individuals and families are expected to walk through the centre of the town to celebrate the event. The walk, organised by Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR UK), is held every September as part of International Recovery Month.
Aerial photography of Shrewsbury. Credit: Paul Hutchinson, Virtual Shropshire
The walking route will start at 12pm and finish at The Quarry Park. Thousands of individuals and families will walk through the town centre accompanied by entertainment along the way.
Walking route
Starting at The Quarry, the walk will proceed along Victoria Avenue, Victoria Quay, Mardol Quay, Smithfield Road, Castle Gates, Castle Street, St Marys Street, Dogpole, Wyle Cop, High Street, Mardol Head, Shoplatch, St Johns Hill, St Chads Terrace and back into The Quarry.
UK Recovery Walk 2018 route
The total route is 1.7 miles and takes around 45 minutes to an hour and half to complete from start to finish. There will be a host of activities and entertainment in The Quarry, including music, circus acts and performances. There will also be a marque with a range of organisations offering advice and information. Music and band acts taking part include:
- Expanse
- The Recovery Choir
- Boreatton Scouts
- Helium Believers
- Fallen Angels
- Two Faced Tom
- Juice Samba Band
- The Recoverists
- Mark Riley
- Got2Sing
- Fallen Angels
- Henry Maybury
- Zac Said
Annemarie Ward, CEO at FAVOR UK, said:
“We so excited to be welcoming thousands of individuals, families and organisations for our 10th anniversary of the FAVOR UK Recovery Walk in Shrewsbury on 8 September. Our event is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of individuals in recovery and acknowledge the work of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.
“FAVOR UK Recovery walk is for everyone, so please do come along and join in the celebrations.”
Throughout September, as part of International Recovery Month, thousands of people in the UK and around the world will be organising local events celebrating the fact that recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a lived reality in their lives.
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, health and social housing, added:
“We are delighted to support the FAVOR UK Recovery Walk 2018. The inspirational event will show a hugely positive face of recovery, and will demonstrate the benefits recovery from substance use disorder brings to the community as a whole.
“Many people don’t think that someone they know or love or even themselves can become addicted to substances; however, becoming dependent on drugs and alcohol can happen to anyone.
“This event is for everyone, and we encourage as many people across Shropshire and the UK, to come and join in the celebrations in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on 8 September.”
Shrewsbury’s Recovery Walk Steering group was successful in winning the bid to host the 10th anniversary of the annual event which celebrates the achievements of individuals in recovery.
To find out more about FAVOR UK Recovery Walk 2018, including car parking information visit http://www.facesandvoicesofrecoveryuk.org/event/shrewsbury/. You can either register online or turn up on the day.
Important information about travel and parking
Shrewsbury is a historic medieval town which makes it an attractive visitor location. It’s surrounded on three sides by the River Severn, which means that transport into the centre can lead to some congestion and delays.
We would recommend travelling early to ensure you are parked at your preferred location and get to The Quarry park in plenty of time and with minimum stress.
Parking at any of the car parks will require some walking but, with careful planning and the right choices for you or your family or group, it will help make your visit to Shrewsbury a pleasurable experience.
What time do you need to be there?
The start time for the walk is midday, from The Quarry, SY1 1RW. This means you will need to be in The Quarry by no later than 11.15am for the pre-event opening ceremony.
How are you getting to the Recovery Walk?
Here is some information to help you plan for your journey to and from the event:
Travelling by coach
If you are travelling by coach on an organised group trip we have identified specific areas for parking for this event.
UK Recovery Walk 2018 parking map
To help us direct you to the best available location booking and to minimise issues booking is essential, so please could you contact us to confirm if you would like a space by emailing zoe.mortimer@shropshire.gov.uk with details of the size of coach and expected arrival time.
This will allow us to ensure we park you quickly and efficiently and, if required, identify a drop off point if the nearest spaces to the event start point are already booked.
Bookings will be taken and coaches parked at the nearest location available.
Priory Road
Number of spaces available is 14.
Walk to start point from parking is 5 minutes.
Coaches will remain parked at this location for pick up after the event.
Nearest toilets are in The Quarry park.
Abbey Foregate (loop road)
Number of spaces available is 20.
Drop off will be Priory Road and pick up will be St Chads Terrace.
Walk to start point from drop off is 5 minutes.
Walk to pick up point will be 5 minutes but at a different location to the drop off point.
Parking is about 12 minutes from the drop off point and 5 minutes to the pick up point, dependant on traffic.
Travelling by minibus
If you are travelling by minibus we have spaces for 40 mini buses at Frankwell Riverside Car Park, SY3 8HQ.
One disabled toilet and two standard toilets will be available by the Frankwell Footbridge, or alternatively Theatre Severn is near the car park and has a lovely café and toilets on route towards The Quarry park.
To help us ensure we have sufficient spaces available please could you contact us to confirm if you would like a space by emailing zoe.mortimer@shropshire.gov.uk
Car travel
It is essential that you plan your journey and arrive well in advance of the start time of the event, allowing time for finding parking, finding a space and walking to the event.
Traffic can be busy and difficult if you do not know the town due to one-way systems so we encourage you to plan well in advance of travel and allow for delays.
Main roads into Shrewsbury are the M54 / M6 network or the A49, A5, A53, A458.
Burrs Field designated car park – postcode SY3 7AF
This temporary parking area on grass has been set up specifically for visitors for this event and can accommodate around 450 cars.
Pedestrian routes to the Quarry Park are via steep varied depth steps via Kingsland Toll Bridge and it will take about 15 minutes to walk along the river paths.
It is not suitable for wheelchair users or those who are challenged in walking terms.
Town centre car parks
There are several town centre car parks but these tend to get very busy particularly on Saturdays so please arrive in plenty of time.
Car parking will be subject to availability when you arrive, however we have identified the following pay and display car parks located near The Quarry and links where available to costs and post codes.
Frankwell Main Car Park – http://shropshire.gov.uk/parking/find-my-nearest-car-park/shrewsbury-frankwell-main/
If full you are advised to use:
Raven Meadows MSCP – http://shropshire.gov.uk/parking/find-my-nearest-car-park/shrewsbury-raven-meadows-multi-storey/
St Julian’s Friar’s Car Park – http://shropshire.gov.uk/parking/find-my-nearest-car-park/shrewsbury-st-julians-friars/
NCP Wyle Cop Car Park – https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/shrewsbury-wyle-cop/
Abbey Foregate Car Park – http://shropshire.gov.uk/parking/find-my-nearest-car-park/shrewsbury-abbey-foregate/
The Gap Car Park, Raven Meadows, Shrewsbury, SY1 1PJ
Blue Badge parking
Normal car parking charges apply for the designated disabled parking spaces in all the surface car parks, with an extra hour on any parking ticket duration purchased.
Park and Ride
Shrewsbury has three Park and Ride sites around the edge of the town and it is the cheapest way to get to the town centre. Wheelchair accessible buses operate on routes and normal charges apply.
The nearest stops for the event are Barker Street and you can walk up a Claremont Hill by the Loopy Shrew Bar to The Quarry Park. Please alert the bus driver that you wish to disembark at this location.
Anyone with a valid English bus pass will be able to travel on the Shrewsbury Park and Ride service for half the price – that’s only 80p return!
All day parking when purchasing a ticket – free. Return bus fare – £1.60 (please note: £1.60 single fare for walking passengers).
Group ticket – allowing up to five adults to travel after 9:30am Monday to Friday and all-day Saturday – £2.50.
Accompanied children under 16 years – free.
The frequency of the buses for this event will be every 12 minutes throughout the day and the number of passengers that can be taken is 70 passengers per journey.
The first bus is at 8am on Saturday.
The last bus departs from the Barker Street Bus Stop at 6:20pm and drops off at named Park and Ride stops around the town centre.
This is likely to be busy and travel time to the town centre is around 20 minutes, although again at busy times this could increase or you may have to wait for the next bus after arriving by car, so please plan your journey carefully.
Harlescott – SY1 4HA
Meole Brace – SY3 9NB
Oxon – SY3 5AD
Please see a link to our Park and Ride web pages for further details: https://shropshire.gov.uk/public-transport/park-and-ride/park-and-ride-shrewsbury/
Shirehall car park
There is free parking available at this location which can be used for the event if you fancy a stroll into the town centre which will take around 20 minutes, or less if you catch the local service buses from Abbey Foregate.
The nearest Bus Stop to the Shirehall is on Abbey Foregate on the opposite side of the road from the Shirehall.
The cost of a Single is £2.40 and a return is our Local Day Saver Ticket at £4.20.
The 23 service runs every 30 minutes at 16 and 46 of each hour.
The 8/8a Service runs every 30 minutes at 12 and 42 of each hour.
The X4 service runs every hour at 27 past each hour.
The X5 Service runs every hour at 57 past each hour.
The 436 Service runs every hour at 21 past each hour (subject to change please follow the links to check service times).
Please see the links to the timetables: copy them into your search bar and they will work.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/midlands/services/436—shrewsbury-to-bridgnorth/?direction=inbound
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/midlands/services/8-8a—shrewsbury-to-tilstock/?direction=inbound
The nearest stop for The Quarry is Barker Street near The Loopy Shrew Bar and Restaurant, please ask the driver when you get on the bus that you require this stop.
The nearest stop for returning to Shirehall is the Raven Meadows Bus Station SY1 1PL, unless you purchase a Day Ticket which means you can return to the stop at Barker Street and select the service bus back to outside Shirehall.
Public transport
Train
The nearest rail station is Shrewsbury and it is about a 15 minute walk to The Quarry.
Approximate train journey times to Shrewsbury are:
Birmingham: 1 hour (direct train).
Manchester: 1 hour 15 minutes (direct train).
Cardiff: 2 hours 30 minutes (direct service).
London: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (some direct services).
Bristol: 3 hours.
Newcastle Upon Tyne: 4 hours.
Glasgow: 4 hours 30 minutes.
For details on timetables please contact: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx
Plan your journey here with National Rail journey planner or call 08457 48 49 50.
Bus
Travel by bus and coach is stress-free and cost-effective.
For information and timetables call the Shropshire Travel Line on 0870 608 2608.
There are many local services available for further information on the bus schedule and route, please visit: http://www.travelinemidlands.co.uk
Information is also available from:
National Express (0870 580 8080).
Travel Line Midlands (0870 2002233).
Severn Dee Travel (01691 681010).
Taxi
There is a taxi rank directly outside Shrewsbury Railway Station, alternatively you can call one of these local Shrewsbury taxi numbers:
If you’re coming for a night out in Shrewsbury, don’t forget to book your journey home to avoid long waits.
Shrewsbury Taxis – 01743 244477
Go Carz – 01743 441144
Vincent Taxis – 01743 367777
Access Cars – 01743 545454
AAA Shrewsbury Taxis – 01743 244555
Star Cars Travel – 01743 353535
Further information
Shrewsbury’s bid for the UK Recovery Walk 2018 has been supported by the Shrewsbury Recovery Walk Steering group a partnership made up of representatives from:
FAVOR UK
Mayor of Shrewsbury
Public Health England
Service User Representative
Shrewsbury BID
Shrewsbury Street Pastors
Shrewsbury Town Council
Shropshire Community Leisure Trust
Shropshire Council
Shropshire Recovery Partnership
Team Shrewsbury
University Centre Shrewsbury/University of Chester
West Mercia Police
Each year FAVOR UK members guided by the bidding process choose one UK city or town to host the National Recovery Walk event.
About Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire and one of England’s finest medieval towns with its historical black and white buildings and picturesque cobbled alleys and square.
Shrewsbury is the birthplace and childhood home of Charles Darwin who grew up here, and the town is full of memories of this. There is a Charles Darwin trail through the town, not to be missed.
Known as the town of flowers, Shrewsbury regularly wins the Britain in Bloom title with its beautiful Quarry Park, Dingle and riverside walks beside the Severn.
Shrewsbury is the perfect place to explore the 660 listed buildings, and exceptional number of fascinating, independent shops that makes Shrewsbury’s shopping so special.
University Centre Shrewsbury has brought an energy and vibrancy to the town which is reflected in our cafe culture, thriving live music scene and growing number of restaurants and creative venues.
Shrewsbury is full of secret places to be discovered. Explore by foot, or enjoy a boat trip on the Sabrina riverboat. Enjoy the castle and the churches that dominate Shrewsbury’s famous skyline.
To find out more about one of England’s finest towns visit: http://www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk/
