Trial pedestrianisation of Shrewsbury town centre to end

Shrewsbury High Street closed to traffic

An experimental pedestrianisation of parts of Shrewsbury town centre is to end on 1 September [2021] to enable the measures to be reviewed ahead of a possible further trial.

Under the scheme, Wyle Cop (uphill), High Street and Shoplatch are closed to all traffic between 11am and 4pm on weekends, and closed to all traffic other than buses, taxis and cyclists between 11am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Milk Street and The Square (southeast side) are closed to traffic from 11am to 4pm every day, and the bus lane has been suspended in Castle Street.

Changes to parking, waiting and loading restrictions are also in place.

The measures on Castle Street will be removed on Thursday 26 August, with normal arrangements – including parking enforcement – resuming from Friday 27 August, in time for the town’s annual Folk Festival.

And the measures on Wyle Cop, High Street and Shoplatch, and in Milk Street and The Square, will be removed on the evening of Tuesday 31 August, with normal arrangements resuming from Wednesday 1 September.

The trial measures were introduced on 19 July [2021] to help ensure that the town remains a welcoming place for pedestrians and cyclists this summer – and were due to remain in place until 31 October .

However, following initial feedback – both for and against the scheme – the measures are to be suspended to allow all views to be reviewed and considered.

A statutory consultation into the trial measures is underway and can be found on the Shropshire Council website. – with people being encouraged to complete the survey to make their views known

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said:

“In short, we’ve decided to pause the trial at the end of August while we consider all views and decide if any changes need to be made to the measures that are in place. This means that the town centre will return to how it was before the pandemic and the introduction of social distancing and other measures.

“The trial has been carried out in an effort to create the best possible environment for the town centre and its businesses to prosper, and to make it more cyclist and pedestrian-friendly.

“Initial feedback tells us that many people and businesses have welcomed the measures, but it also clear that some aren’t happy – notably blue badge holders and some traders – and I sympathise with their comments and concerns.

“We’ll therefore be ending the trial a little earlier than planned to allow us to properly consider all feedback, before deciding what measures could or should be put in place in the future.

“It’s important that we formally consider all views and I encourage people to take part in our online consultation to tell us what they think.

“Once we’ve taken all comments on board we’ll look at running a further, revised, trial in the near future.”