24/09/2018 - Permalink

Further public realm improvements in Shrewsbury town centre next spring

Related topics: Highways, transport and environmental maintenance
Shrewsbury town view

Aerial photograph of Shrewsbury. Credit: Paul Hutchinson

Improvements to footways, crossing points, road surfaces, roads signs and street furniture are to begin at three sites in Shrewsbury town centre next April (2019).

The work – part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) – will be carried out at:

  • Bellstone from its junction with Shoplatch to Barker Street
  • Wyle Cop at its junction with Dogpole
  • Mardol, Roushill, Mardol Head and Claremont Street.

At these sites new natural stone kerb lines will be constructed to provide wider footways and new pedestrian crossing points.

The footways will be repaved with high-quality natural stone materials.

The existing drainage will be altered where required to suit the new road layouts.

Carriageway resurfacing will be undertaken and some areas of carriageway will be paved in natural stone setts.

Trees are proposed to be planted in urban tree pits at Bellstone and Mardol and updated street furniture is proposed at all sites. Traffic sign upgrades are proposed at all sites.

The originally planned surfacing works in High Street to the foot of Pride Hill will now be delivered as part of this phase of work to minimise disruption and road closures.

This work will follow on from the Town Walls to Claremont Bank enhancement work, which is being carried out between September 2018 and spring 2019 as part of the SITP.

A new contractor is currently being sought for the work, and is expected to be appointed in January.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:

“Alongside the upgrading of Pride Hill and the work from Town Walls to Claremont Bank, this work is key to improving the public and urban realm for Shrewsbury. We thank people for their understanding while all of this important work is carried out – they will see a significant and notable improvement to the town centre once the work is complete.”

For further information about the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP), visit shropshire.gov.uk/sitp.

Further information

The improvements in the town centre will incorporate a range of traffic management and public realm enhancements as a part of the overall SITP.

The aims of these improvements closely align with the objectives for the overall package, these being to:

  • Discourage through-traffic from using the town centre;
  • Create a pedestrian-friendly town centre environment, with an increase in footfall;
  • Reduce the number and severity of accidents;
  • Promote economic vitality and attract investment, and
  • Ultimately create a heightened sense of place and well-being.

The proposed public realm improvements link with these measures and aim to make a positive and consistent change to the quality of the public realm within Shrewsbury town centre.