Social distancing measures being put in place to help boost Shropshire’s towns

One of the social distancing warning signs that are now in place around the county.

From this week Shropshire Council is putting in place measures to ensure that people can safely and easily visit and navigate the county’s market towns in line with social distancing regulations and latest government guidance once shops start to re-open from next Monday, 15 June.

The development of these measures follows town centre visits, and discussions with councillors, town and parish csouncils, Business Improvement Districts, chambers of commerce, and the council’s highways and transport officers.

The measures are for public safety and to support town centre recovery in line with the government’s easing of lockdown restrictions and in anticipation of people returning to town centres.

Details of work that has been agreed so far, and that is set to be carried out in the coming days, can be seen below. Further details and dates will be confirmed as plans are agreed.

Please note: Dates given below are subject to traffic regulation orders (TROs) being in place and traffic management plans being approved, and in accordance with Government guidelines. All of the schemes will be temporary but Shropshire Council will monitor and evaluate each one to see if there is a positive impact that would justify possible future permanent solutions.

This information is correct as of 12 June 2020. Updates and latest information – including plans/drawings – will be available via the Shropshire Council website, which we plan to update daily.

Any concerns with the measures can be reported by phone on 0345 678 9006 or via the online reporting form on the Shropshire Council website.

Shropshire Council’s highways and transport officers will be monitoring town centres over the coming days and weeks. If there are issues or if staff notice any areas of concern, adjustments or new measures can be implemented.

Bishop’s Castle

Church Street: Traffic management measures are being proposed to provide extra footway width and social distancing, with closure of adjacent parking bays if necessary to assist with queuing outside banks, post offices, pharmacies and supermarkets. A section of carriageway on Church Street adjacent to the Co-op shop is to be reassigned for pedestrian use only. Every effort is being made to retain access for loading/disabled parking.
Date of work: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.

Other measures being looked at:

High Street: Potential one-way system, anti-clockwise, along with modifications to parking.

Bridgnorth

High Street: Traffic management measures are being introduced on High Street to provide extra footway width and social distancing, to assist with queuing outside banks,  post offices, pharmacies and supermarkets.
Date of work: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.

Church Stretton

Churchway: Covid-19 distancing measures are being introduced on Churchway on Thursdays each week when the market takes place on The Square. Churchway will be closed to vehicles to allow pedestrians to queue along the road safely. This will be in place every Thursday for a period of three months but dates may change in accordance with government guidance.
Date of work: from 25 June.

High Street: one-way system from Shrewsbury Road towards Ludlow Road, with revised on-street parking restrictions.
Date of work: by 15 June

Shrewsbury Road: To facilitate additional footway width for pedestrians on Shrewsbury Road, temporary traffic signals are to be installed at the Sandford Road/Burway Road junction.
Date of work: by 15 June

Ellesmere

Cross Street: Traffic management measures are being introduced on Cross Street in Ellesmere to provide extra footway width and social distancing, with closure of adjacent parking bays if necessary to assist with queuing outside shops and other businesses. Parking is to be suspended as directed by signs and traffic measures on site. Some parking bays are to be reassigned as either for loading or pedestrians only.  Every effort is being made to retain access for
loading/disabled parking.
Date of work: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June

Ludlow (edited 17 June – see note below)

King Street: Closure between 10am and 3pm on Friday and Saturday. Pedestrianisation/re-allocation of road space.
Date of work: from Friday 26 June

Note: A traffic regulation order (TRO) had been agreed for the closure of High Street and King Street in Ludlow from 10am to 3pm every day. However, following concerns raised by local councillors and the town council we have agreed that the closure should be just King Street, and from 10am to 3pm on Friday and Saturday only. The TRO for the proposed closure of High Street and King Street will now be withdrawn and an order raised for the revised King Street closure.

Market Drayton

Cheshire Street and High Street: Traffic management measures are being introduced to provide extra footway width and social distancing, with closure of adjacent parking bays if necessary to assist with queuing outside banks, post offices, pharmacies and  supermarkets. Parking will be suspended with some parking bays being reassigned for pedestrians only or loading only. Every effort is being made to retain access for loading / disabled parking.
Date of work: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.

Other measures being looked at:

Shropshire Street: We are continuing to monitor the potential closure.

Much Wenlock

High Street: Traffic management measures are being introduced on High Street to provide extra footway width and social distancing with closure of adjacent parking bays if necessary to assist with queuing outside banks, post offices, pharmacies and supermarkets. Parking is to be suspended as directed on site by signs and traffic measures. The limited waiting parking bay adjacent to The George and Dragon pub is being  reassigned for pedestrian use only. Every effort is being made to retain access for loading / disabled parking.
Date of work: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.

Other measures being considered:

• Wilmore Street: possible closure of to facilitate social distancing and access to the market.
• King Street: one-way system with contraflow cycle lane.

Oswestry

Church Street: to be made one-way with reallocation of pedestrian space, loading bays and disabled bays. Alternative disabled parking will be provided at the rear of Festival  Square.
Date of work: 15 June

Bailey Street/Bailey’s Head: Closure to traffic between 10am and 4pm each day
Date of work: 15 June

Cross Street: Closure to traffic between 10am and 4pm each day
Date of work: 15 June

Shrewsbury

Castle Street: Suspension of bus lane to provide additional space for pedestrians and reallocation of pay and display parking to loading only.
Date of work: by 15 June

Note: We’re working to remove scaffolding on the footway at 21/21a Castle Street as quickly as possible.

New Street: A trial one-way system and contraflow cycle lane is being implemented to enable safer travel for cyclists and pedestrians. The one-way system is being implemented under an experimental Traffic Regulation Order and will be in place from the junction with Park Avenue (near The Boathouse) to Quarry View near the B4386 Copthorne Road, Frankwell. Traffic will only be allowed to travel in a northeast bound direction (towards Frankwell) with a contraflow cycle lane in the opposite direction. A signed diversion route for south-west bound traffic will be in place. Note: In the coming days we’re looking to  make modifications to facilitate access to properties.
Date of work: 11 June

High Street: will be closed to motorised traffic between its junctions with Wyle Cop and Milk Street daily between 11am and 6pm from 15 June. During this period, pedestrians will be able to use the entire highway space on this section of High Street. Traffic will be re-routed via Town Walls, Murivance, St Chad’s Terrace, Claremont Bank and Lower Claremont Bank. Access for emergency vehicles and cyclists will be retained on High Street. The temporary closure will facilitate deliveries at times when pedestrian footfall levels would be anticipated to be lower.
Date of work: from 15 June

Other measures being considered include:

• Ditherington Road and Telford Way: Reduce the approach lanes to two to enable safer crossing movements for pedestrians and cyclists at this location.
• Victoria Quay and Pride Hill: Possible social distancing measures.
• Castle Foregate (from Chester Street to Royal Oak pub): Suspension of parking bay and bus stop, and provision of a cycle lane.

Wem

High Street: new one-way system to be implemented.
Date of work: Week commencing 30 June.

Whitchurch

High Street (including Green End): closure to traffic and reallocation of highway space for amenity and trade and to provide additional space for pedestrians. Additional disabled parking bays to be allocated in Pepper Street car park. Provision for deliveries to be made available at Castle Hill car park.
Date of work: week commencing 15 June