The number of shoppers using Shrewsbury’s two main shopping centres has fallen by up to 20,000 people a week since controversial roadworks began, it was revealed today.
Bosses of the Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centres today said they were “really concerned” about the effect the latest roadworks were having.
June Meagher, marketing assistant, said the centres usually see about 250,000 people every week but this has dropped to about 230,000.
She said: “We’re really concerned about the detrimental effect it’s having on our tenants.”
Shrewsbury Business Chamber was due to meet with Shropshire County Council today to discuss positive ways to promote the town while the works in Dogpole, to improve pavements while the town is trialled as a more pedestrian-friendly area, continue until the end of May.Philip Freeman, owner of the Parade Shopping Centre, said it was a “double whammy” for the shops to have roadworks restricting the town centre and residents who felt they could not get into the town.
Julie Owen, from Wyle Cop Retailers, said a second meeting for traders about positive ways of getting support while the roadworks in Dogpole continue would also be taking place tonight.”
Phil Crossland, assistant director for transport and highways with the county council, said: “I think the reduction in retail is wider than just the roadworks.
Mr Crossland added: “We’re keen to promote Shrewsbury as much as we can during this difficult time to attract as many visitors as possible.”
9 Comments
The powers that be, may not like it, but you have been told many times, that a Town that is Anti-Car is also classed as Anti-customer friendly.
YOU CAN NOT HAVE TRADE WITHOUT THE NEED OF THE CAR!
Why doesn’t the SCC promote the town as a ghost town. It has shops car parks and roads but no people, eerie isn’t it. Why would they be surprised the town is losing trade, what did these numpties expect when they decided to effectively close the town for two months. Any other town would have started the discussion with “how can we get the work done without closing off the town”. Not SCC, close the town and let’s put some lovely new pavements in. One problem. nobody left to walk on them. Happy now.
Lets hope those people that made the decision to close Shrewsbury are at the bottom of the pile for the top jobs in the Unitary Authority next year. I live in the sticks and now use Shrewsbury as a last resort. Over priced carparking especilly in the evenings and Sundays, when it should be free.
Anyone taking a close look at the ridiculously widened pavements and bizarre decisions to narrow the road in certain places might care to join with me in my suspicions that chronic traffic congestion is actually being purposely created. Expect a new survey in a couple of years time recommending the return of the congestion charge. I wonder now just who runs our country the ‘Government’ or the big 5 supermarkets.
As Countryboy says Shrewsbury Town Centre is a last resort… I can’t understand the Council, what where they thinking? While people go to other areas to shop (temporarily) they may decide not come back.
This is madness and unnecessary madness as well.
I do actually believe congestion has been created as part of the wider agenda, both now and in the future with the works being carried out.
People need to think a bit more about who visits Shrewsbury and why.
let us hope when it is all finished some lad with a 40t truck, using sat nav attempts a cruise around the towns new roads, oh what a wicked thought
You cannot believe that a County Council who struts their 4* status has such small regard for the people they are supposed to help and work for!
They tell the powers that be how wonderful they are at working and listening to communities but in reality destroy them through their lack of initiative and consultation with both shoppers and shop owners. Despite everyone telling them that Shrewsbury is a dying shambles, they spin like tops giving their positive views of how wonderful it all is and remain in denial while the rest of us suffer.
there is no trade in shrewsbury at the momnent! trade is down but the roadworks just put a cheery on the cake!
Good tip tho; insted of following the proper diversion past asda etc, go up town walls! its so much quicker
Bottom Line! SABC are wasting money on useless things! Ive lost all faith with the council!
You only have to take a look at how many ‘To Let’ signs there are on the shops leading up from the railway station to see that the town is dying. What sort of impression does this give to visitors? Don’t the council see that closing the roads won’t actually help any businesses stay alive? It’s only a matter of time before the congestion charges come in by the way, the cables are being laid in readyness under the new pavements as we speak. After that I shall make sure I avoid the town altogether.