People urged to have their say about proposed new walking and cycling routes

People will soon be able to share their thoughts about an ambitious proposed network of new and upgraded walking and cycling routes across Shropshire – including new cycle lanes, footpaths, crossings and bridges.

A six-week consultation into Shropshire’s draft first Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) will start on 17 April [2023]. An LCWIP sets out a 10-year plan for delivering new or improved infrastructure for walking and cycling – to encourage more people to choose active modes of travel wherever possible.

The draft Shropshire LCWIP focuses on seven key market towns – Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Church Stretton, Ludlow and Whitchurch. These areas have the largest numbers of people and therefore offer the greatest opportunity to increase levels of cycling and walking.

A list of proposals has been drawn up for each town, with schemes ranked in order of priority based on their effectiveness and deliverability. See notes for more information.

The consultation will include lots of ways for people of all ages to find out more and have their say.

It will include: an online survey; a school-focused online survey; seven ‘roadshow’ style consultation events at which people can meet the team and find out more; three online public presentations, Q&A virtual meetings covering Shrewsbury, north Shropshire and south Shropshire; and information sessions for teachers and pupils at four local schools.

Some of the details have now been agreed (below) and full details will be added to the Shropshire Council website once confirmed – at www.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved.

Tuesday 9 May

• Morning: Whitchurch roadshow (details TBC)
• Afternoon: Shrewsbury schools event (details TBC)

Wednesday 10 May

• 9.30am to 12noon: Oswestry roadshow, at the Oswestry Wednesday Market
• Afternoon: Oswestry schools event (details TBC)

Thursday 11 May

• Morning: Ludlow roadshow (details TBC)
• Afternoon: Church Stretton roadshow (details TBC)

Friday 12 May

• 9.30am to 12noon: Market Drayton roadshow, outside Market Drayton Town Hall
• Afternoon: Market Drayton schools event (details TBC)

Sunday 14 May

• 11am to 4pm: Shrewsbury roadshow, outside The Darwin shopping centre

Monday 15 May

• Morning: Bridgnorth roadshow (details TBC)
• Afternoon: Bridgnorth schools event (details TBC)

Following the consultation an updated LCWIP will be presented to Shropshire Council’s Cabinet for consideration.

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said:

“The aim of this new plan is to deliver a  fantastic network of cycling and walking routes and measures across Shropshire, with a focus on the seven key market towns.

“We really will need people to share their views and tell us what they think about our draft plan and there are lots of opportunities for people to get involved. Public feedback, particularly about the proposed routes and interventions for each area, will help ensure that our plans reflect what local communities want and need, so we really do need you to tell us what you think.

“All of the proposals will require funding to make them a reality, but LCWIPs are increasingly seen as a key requirement to access Department for Transport funding, so this new plan will strengthen our case for future Government funding for cycling and walking.”

Once funding is secured for specific schemes these will then be subject to local consultation with councillors and the public before progressing to implementation.

Work to develop Shropshire’s LCWIP began in October 2021 and was carried out by City Science Incorporation.

The consultation was agreed at a meeting of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on 8 March 2023. The committee report and the draft LCWIP can be seen on the meeting agenda.

Further information

A summary of the top-scoring proposed schemes for each town within the draft LCWIP.

For Bridgnorth the top scoring schemes are a mix of short connections which support local movements across barriers (e.g.  a bridge crossing from the railway station) and longer distance links connecting into the surrounding villages from the town. The highest scoring scheme is provision for cyclists along Whitburn Street, supporting movement into the town centre from the western suburbs.

For Church Stretton the top scoring schemes include provision of shorter  (<2km) formalised cycle routes which connect residential areas to the town centre and train station (e.g.  a cycle route along the B4371 Sandford Avenue connecting the town centre to eastern suburbs) and longer distance links connecting into the surrounding villages from the town e.g. cycle provision connecting Little Stretton to Church Stretton . The highest scoring scheme is a crossing on Sandford Avenue at the railway station west entrance to support movements from the north.

For Ludlow, top scoring schemes include development of a spinal route through the town centre and along Tower St, Lower Galdeford and Upper Galdeford to Steventon New Rd. Longer distance routes include a cycle route from the town centre along Gravel Hill and Sheet Rd through to Sheet, connecting the Ledwyche Rise residential area to the town centre (this is the highest scoring scheme).

For Market Drayton, top scoring schemes include a number of shorter east-west links (e.g. a route along Bridge Road, Longslow Road and Prospect Road) which connect to a spinal route through the centre of Market Drayton from the Town Centre to the north, along Cheshire Street and Adderley Road. The highest scoring scheme is a dedicated route along Maer Lane which connects the centre of town to a key employment centre.

For Shrewsbury, the top scoring schemes are the Welsh Bridge and A5191 schemes (major access corridors to the centre). The Welsh Bridge has width constraints and will require innovative solutions as the nearby and parallel active travel bridges have accessibility constraints.

On the whole Oswestry scored higher than the other towns, particularly due to potential mode shift and growth. This is likely a result of not having an active railway station, therefore many of the schemes are aiming to link the town centre with the Orthopaedic Hospital and Gobowen station, as well as the industrial estate.

For Whitchurch, the highest performing scheme is along Station Road, enhancing the link between the station and town centre. The second highest scoring scheme is on Claypit Street (Airport Road), supporting access to the Whitchurch Community Hospital.