Councillors are calling for a major rethink of plans to pedestrianise a busy street in a Shropshire market town.

Members of Bridgnorth Town Council last night vowed to oppose the scheme to close the town’s Whitburn Street, which links the outskirts of the town with the main shopping area, except for access and buses in a £730,000 proposal from Shropshire Council.

Councillor Adrian Taachi said he was totally opposed to the pedestrianisation of the street.

He said: “We are being pulled up a cul-de-sac by Shropshire Council. Our plan was to take buses out of Whitburn Street because of the pollution it was causing so I cannot understand why they want to allow them now.

“We must make strong representations to Shropshire Council.”

His views were echoed by Councillor Connie Baines who claimed the county-backed plan was being foisted on the people of Bridgnorth.

“I dread to think what they are doing to the town of Bridgnorth,” she said.

“It is pedestrianisation by the back door. We are happy with the present one-way system and want to see the bus stop returned to Whitburn Street because at the moment older people have a long trek if they get off the bus in other parts of the town.

She added: “The loading areas they are planning are useless and the junction with Old Smithfield is dangerous.

“It will create a conflict between pedestrians and buses. Eventually it will create a yob charter because they will take over the pedestrianised areas.”

However, Councillor Brian Jones said buses should be diverted away from Whitburn Street to the town’s relief road.

“We have two brand new bus shelters doing nothing on the relief road,” he told the meeting.

Councillor Ed Shirley said something needed to be done to help keep traffic moving.

The town council agreed to take its protests to members of Shropshire Council.

By Brett Gibbons