Have your say about Church Stretton improvements
Church Stretton residents can now have their say about proposals to enhance and improve the centre of the town.
Designed in medieval times, the High Street cannot accommodate all of the modern requirements, namely, pavements, on-street parking and two-way traffic. This requires us to decide collectively which requirements should be given priority.
Shropshire Council has agreed with the Church Stretton Town Council that the community’s views will be sought on three options, as follows:
Option 1:
• Widening the east-side pavement of the High Street between Lloyds TSB Bank and Salt’s, safeguarding the access to Barn Lane.
• Removing seven on-street parking spaces.
• Retaining two-way traffic flow.
Option 2:
• Widening the east-side pavement of the High Street from Lloyds’ Bank right the way to the Lion Meadow roundabout.
• Retaining the seven on-street parking spaces on the High Street (in addition to the patrolled parking in the Square).
• Implementing a south-bound one-way traffic flow (i.e. north to south) in the High Street from the junction with Sandford Avenue (i.e. from Lloyds TSB/HSBC banks) to the Lion Meadow roundabout.
• Maintaining two-way traffic through Lion Meadow and Easthope Road.
Option 3: No change
Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member, said:
“The possible re-design of the High Street, to make it more pedestrian-friendly, has now been a matter of local debate for over five years. It is important that this issue is now resolved in a way that most effectively addresses the concerns of residents of all ages, traders and visitors, not only for the present but for the next 30 years, because there is not likely to be another such opportunity.”
David Evans, Shropshire Councillor for Church Stretton and Craven Arms, said:
“I urge everyone to come and have a look at the enhancement scheme and have their say. It’s too late once the consultation date as closed and the scheme is put into place. We need everyone to express their views as their information is valuable to us.”
Detailed plans of the two change options will be on public display in the Library and Town Council office until 30 June. There will also be a public exhibition of these documents on Wednesday 15 June 15 from 3pm to 7pm in the Silvester Horne Institute, at which residents from the town and surrounding area will be able to ask questions of the transport planners, as well as town and unitary councillors, before submitting their responses.
The plans can also be viewed by following the links below.
Responses should be sent by 30 June to:
– Shropshire Council (Samantha Tharme, Transport Planning Team, Shirehall, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND; samantha.tharme@shropshire.gov.uk), and/or:
-the Town Clerk, Church Stretton Town Council, 60, High St., Church Stretton, SY6 6BY personalassistant@churchstretton-tc.gov.uk.
A report on the public consultation, together with the Shropshire Council recommendations, will be made available to all stakeholders and will be submitted to the Town Council on 26 July.
If Shropshire Council’s recommendation is for changes to the High Street, Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) will be published for final public consultation throughout September. Any objections to the TROs will be considered by Shropshire Council’s Planning Committee on 1 November. If at this stage proposed changes are approved, work will be completed in 2012.
NOTE: It has already been agreed by Church Stretton Town Council to change the current parking in the Square into eight patrolled two-hour (free) parking spaces (excluding the two market days) to increase the turnover and this will be implemented shortly and apply for all three options.
