Town centre road to shut for eight weeks

Shropshire County Council bosses will close a Shrewsbury town centre road for eight weeks to trial pedestrian friendly areas and complete the town’s regeneration project.

Phase three of the centre enhancement scheme is well under way and includes work to improve the pavements and introduce pedestrian facilities. It follows on from the work already completed on Castle Gates and Wyle Cop.

As part of the work, Dogpole will close to traffic from April 7 until May 31.

Due to the road being narrow, it will be closed to through traffic from the railway station to its junction with Wyle Cop.

Council officials said access would be maintained along the route for essential traffic only, such as residents, loading, parking and for emergency vehicles.John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and environment, said: “We have been working closely with stakeholders and local residents to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum and we hope that with your patience and co-operation, the works will run smoothly and efficiently.

“We also hope that this trial is a success and helps to create a more pleasant environment for those living in and visiting the town.”

But some shopkeepers in the area claim they have had no notification of the closure.

Val Parker, of Excentric, said: “All the residents have had a sheet of paper telling them everything but we have had nothing. It will make a big difference to us because the traffic drives past, they see our shop and they come back to us.”

But a spokesman from Cromwells Hotel and Restaurant said the closure would not make much difference because drivers were not allowed to park on the road at any time.

While Dogpole is closed, the council will trial the town centre as a more pedestrian friendly area by reducing through traffic.

This will mean changes to other traffic flows.

These will include reverse traffic flow on Town Walls from Murivance to Wyle Cop, two-way traffic on Claremont Bank and Lower Claremont Bank and one-way traffic up Wyle Cop.

Town Walls from Wyle Cop to Lower Claremont Bank will also need to be closed to through traffic on March 30 and April 6 to allow road marking changes.

And work to repair the worn out road surface on Coton Hill will see the road closed on March 30.

Further works on April 6 will be carried out under stop/go signing to minimise any disruption.