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Decision on steps closure delayed
Wednesday 19th November 2008, 7:00PM GMT.
Plans to shut one of Shrewsbury’s town centre historic alleyways have been delayed in order to give more time for consultation.
Shropshire County Council was today due to consider a gating order – which would see the Seventy Steps permanently shut.
But now the decision has been delayed for a month to December 19.
Constable David Walton, town centre police officer, claims the steps have become a haven for drug users and drinkers, who use it as a makeshift toilet, and has called on the council to close it.
Phil Crossland, Shropshire County Council’s assistant director for transport and highways, said: “We were originally intending to run the gating order policy as an item at cabinet today.
“However, it has been decided that it should go to the Implementation Executive on December 3 to give the borough and district councils an opportunity to comment, as this will ultimately be a Shropshire Council policy.
“It will then go to the county council’s full council meeting on December 19.”
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I suggest that anyone who objects to the closure of the Seventy Steps, takes a walk through this disgusting thoroughfare and tries to breath normally, the smell of urine and occasional faeces is enough to take your head off.
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Back in the 1950s and 60s the steps were an important link between the Smithfield and the town centre, but they were ruined by the more recent construction of the shopping centres, which set them up for the present misuse. Why not keep them open during the day, but close them at night?
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This is a sad but perhaps necessary move. I remember when only ‘us’ young people managed to climb those steps.
I imagine it would require many Security cameras to cover it but, you may catch a lot of criminals, or anti-social people.
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I moved away from Shrewsbury years ago but fo the 20 years of my childhood “The 70 Steps” were an important part os the Town’s fabric – just as Bear Steps and the other Shuts in the Town.
I agree with the above comments in this regard, but the comment on the shopping centres – yes – they have diminished The Steps importance as there is now a bridge link from Riverside but the Centres have been there since the mid/late 1980s – is this a new problem – if so then blame the town centre management or wider government organisations for allowing this “anti social behaviour”, howsoever it is caused.
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