Campaigners and council officials are lining up for a battle to decide the future of a Shrewsbury playing field which could be turned into a car park.
An extra 175 spaces could be created at Frankwell car park by developing part of the nearby playing field. Members of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council are being asked to look at the idea to tackle the county town’s growing parking crisis.
But a group of 17 residents have launched a bid to turn the playing field into a town green - which would stop any development.
They claim the land has been used by local people for sports and pastimes for at least 20 years.
There will now be a public inquiry led by an independent inspector to decide on the application. If successful it would scupper the car park extension plan.
And there is currently also a covenant, which says the land must be used for recreation.
Alan Howard, of Mountfields, said: “We are determined to do all we can to protect this dwindling heritage. Mountfields is a close-knit community and having a town green is part of that.”
Rosanna Lacey, also of Mountfields, said: “We take our grandchild there to play. Lots of young children play games after school and it’s used all the time.”
Borough council technical services manager Eddie McGrath today said Frank-well car park could be extended without laying concrete and that there would be a “grass-like” surface used instead.
“It would only take up a relatively small amount of the field. It would not affect the cricket ground,” he said.
“The area the council is looking at extending is the area the local people want to designate as a town green. There is also a covenant on that piece of land. Those are two issues which will need to be addressed.”
By next year there will be 551 fewer parking spaces in the town centre than in 1999, a report reveals.
Extending the NCP car park at Wyle Cop is also proposed as a possible solution to the loss of spaces. Councillors are now being urged to start talks with the site owner.
But an extra level at St Julian’s Friars car park will not be built because of flooding fears. Barker Street car park was recently sold to developer Morris Property in a deal worth £2 million.
By Tom Warren
4 Comments
Why is the town obsessed with motor cars and driving into the centre? For goodness sake, leave the car at home.
cars should not come first,safe playing areas for kids ought to,not further excuses to swell the coffers of the local council. perhaps there is a faint whiff of corruption here.
With the proposed “congestion tax” for Shrewsbury, surely the demand for car parking will reduce?
Besides, children need exercise!
Where are our priorities??
Do we really need more cars in the town? Wasn’t the Park & Ride built to reduce the cars! Why does the Council want to spend our money on building/tarmacing all covenant/recreation land in Shrewsbury? What next turning the Quarry into a car park….