Second phase of Bridgnorth riverside enhancement project set to start

The second phase of a project to enhance and improve Bridgnorth’s riverside is due to get underway next Monday (13 January 2014).

The riverside enhancement project has been developed by several organisations in the town after local people expressed concerns – through the Bridgnorth Town Plan – about the condition of the riverside, and about how it should play a much greater role in boosting the town’s economy.

The project is being led by Shropshire Council, in partnership with Bridgnorth Town Council and the Low Town Action Group.  The work is being carried out by staff of Lewis Arborcare, Ringway, and Bridgnorth Town Council.

Funded through Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme, the cost of the project is approximately £100,000.

Phase one of the project took place in spring 2013, when the trees along the riverside were ‘pollarded’ – that is, the tops and branches were trimmed to encourage new growth, which will make a real difference in the future.

Work being carried out during phase two of the riverside enhancement project includes:

• Clearance of vegetation on the riverbank.
• Installation of a new lifebuoy station, near the Old Waterworks.
• Laying of new kerbing.
• Installing new timber, cast iron posts and rail fencing to replace the existing concrete post and rail fencing.
• Installation of extra warning signs, and placing existing signs in more prominent positions.
• Pollarding and crown lifting of Lime Trees (see ‘further information’ below).

Work is set to start on Doctors Lane to the north of the bridge on Monday 13 January and continue until Friday 24 January.  The road will be closed from 9am to 4pm each day.

Similar work to the south of the bridge will then be carried out from Monday 27 January to Friday 31 January.  Again, the road will be closed from 9am to 4pm each day.

These dates and times are subject to the weather conditions.

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

“I’m delighted that the second phase of this important project is about to begin, and that funding from the council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme has made the work possible. I’m confident that enhancing and improving Bridgnorth’s riverside will provide a real boost to the town as a whole.”

Anne Wilson, town clerk with Bridgnorth Town Council, said:

“We are pleased to be a partner in a project of such importance and in a prominent area of town.  This overdue and much needed work is to be carried out to a high specification, and as part of the process the town council staff will be trained to maintain the area long term.”

William Parr, a Shropshire Councillor for Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbotts, said:

“This is exciting news for Bridgnorth and I’m really pleased that the second phase of the riverside enhancements is about to begin.  The work will provide a number of welcome benefits to the town, especially to our tourist industry, and will help to boost our local economy.”

Christian Lea, also a Shropshire Councillor for Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbotts, said:

“Local residents have for a while expressed concern over the general state of the riverside.  The work which is about to be undertaken will vastly improve the riverside for residents and visitors to the town.  I very much believe that it will help to boost the local economy, with more people being able to admire the wonderful riverside views once the riverbank vegetation has been removed and the tree pollarding work undertaken.”

Information notices and road signs will be posted in advance to inform people about the dates and times of the work, and about parking restrictions while the work is carried out.

Letters have been sent to all residents who live next to the river, to let them know about the forthcoming work and to ask them to contact Shropshire Council if they have any questions or concerns.

Residents with queries about the work are asked to call 01746 713165.

Further information

‘Re-pollarding’ is an historic form of maintenance which is used in urban areas to prevent the trees outgrowing their location.

The process involves cutting branches back to the original pollard points to leave just the trunk with a ‘knuckle’ on top, allowing the retention of compact, mature trees.

These lime trees were previously pollarded in 1997 and now require the cycle to be repeated to minimise the risk of branches failing, and to maintain the trees’ size within keeping of the streetscene.