People asked for views on Bridgnorth and north east Shrewsbury transport and travel proposals
Should there be an electric hopper bus in Bridgnorth town centre?
Forward-thinking transport, public space and connectivity proposals for Bridgnorth and for northeast Shrewsbury have today (22 October 2021) been published, with local residents and businesses encouraged to comment on which of the ideas they would like to see progressed – if funding becomes available.
In Bridgnorth, proposals include a new town centre multi-storey car park, a new junction from the A458 to provide direct access to the Oldbury Wells schools, and improvements to public realm and the environment on High Street.
For northeast Shrewsbury, proposed projects include enhancements to key roundabouts – including Battlefield Roundabout, Enterprise Roundabout and Heathgates Roundabout – to improve safety and capacity. Significant walking and cycling improvements are also proposed, including a River Severn pedestrian route to enhance safe and sustainable access to the Featherbed Lane schools and Shrewsbury Sports Village.
Proposed improvements to Heathgates roundabout in Shrewsbury
To secure funding, any proposals first need to have public backing. Shropshire Council is therefore asking people for their thoughts before any further work is carried out to develop the schemes, and before possible sources of scheme funding are explored.
For each town, until 25 November [2021] Shropshire Council is inviting people to consider the proposals and comment on which projects should be prioritised, which should not be taken forward, and to suggest any schemes they think have been missed and should be considered.
To see and comment on the Bridgnorth proposals, click here.
To see and comment on the northeast Shrewsbury proposals, click here.
The outcomes of this public engagement exercise will be critical for helping to develop ‘future connectivity plans’ for both Bridgnorth and northeast Shrewsbury.
Should Bridgnorth High Street be pedestrianised?
The proposals have been prepared following extensive data analysis, site assessments and engagement with council officers, local councillors and town councils. Proposals that will improve local transport, enhance quality of place, support local health and wellbeing, and strengthen the local and wider regional economy, are being considered.
Whilst there is currently no budget available to take the identified schemes forward, the final future connectivity plans will assist Shropshire Council in trying to secure external scheme funding from The Marches LEP, Government and the private sector.
Carbon reduction is a key consideration within each of the projects and all align with the council’s wider climate programme and commitments. Within the schemes there is a big focus on identifying alternative modes of traffic such as cycling, walking, buses and trams.
The suggested new River Severn Pedestrian route
Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said:
“This is very much an emerging list of projects for Bridgnorth and for northeast Shrewsbury that could be carried out in the coming months and years, if there is public support, and if funding can be secured. We hope it’s a list that will grab people’s attention and generate debate and discussion. It’s exciting to be able to put these ideas on the table and ask local people what they think.
“It’s important to give those who live, work and visit Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury the opportunity to comment and help shape the proposals, including to help identify priority projects.
“We hope that this exercise helps demonstrate to the public how Shropshire Council is continuing to push forward on transport, and access investment, in Bridgnorth and in northeast Shrewsbury.
“Next spring we’ll also be publishing proposals for Market Drayton and Oswestry as part of this programme, and we hope that plans for other areas of the county will follow. We’d welcome any suggestions for which areas we should focus on next.”
Drop-in sessions will also be held at Bridgnorth Town Hall on 4 November from 10am to 5pm, and at Shropshire Local unit in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury – on a date to be confirmed, where people can view the draft proposals and share their thoughts as part of the public engagement exercise.
Further information
Drawings of each of the proposed schemes can be found on Shropshire Council’s Flickr, at:
Bridgnorth – click here.
Northeast Shrewsbury – click here.
