Shropshire Star

1,200 sign petition calling for decision in Shrewsbury footpath row

A petition backing calls for a resolution in the long-running dispute over a new Dana footpath in Shrewsbury has been presented to Shropshire Horticultural Society.

Published

More than 1,200 people have backed the Castlefields Action Team (Cat) petition, which urges the horticultural society to come to an agreement over land for a footpath which would bypass the Dana Steps.

Michael Nixon, of Cat, called on the horticultural society to listen to public opinion and move ahead with the proposal, which has remained unresolved for more than a decade.

He said: "We hope the horticultural society will respond to the huge amount of people who have signed the petition – there are more than 1,200, and we hope they will respond to that public opinion and release the land to the town council to build the footpath."

Shrewsbury Town Council has a proposal for a footpath which would bypass the steps and allow people with mobility problems, or parents with pushchairs, to make their way on to Castle Gates.

But the land required for the path is owned by Shropshire Horticultural Society, which says it has a separate proposal for a pathway and will be submitting an application sometime next month.

David Turton, of CAT, said people are shocked that the dispute is still without resolution.

He said: "It is outrageous that in the 21st century there is not an accessible route that parents with pushchairs and people with mobility issues can use to cross the Dana, that is safe for everyone."

Mr Nixon said CAT had been thrilled with the public reaction to the petition.

He said: "I think we were completely overwhelmed by the strength of feeling and the support we received.

"We knew there would be support but we were overwhelmed by the number of people who want to see this situation resolved."

After handing the petition to the horticultural society Mr Nixon said the group had told him it is in favour of a different option.

He said: "They said they are in favour of a footpath but not the one proposed to the council. We have made the point that they should make direct contact with the council to sort that out.

"We hope that things will be resolved as quickly as possible because it has gone on for a very long time."

No-one from the horticultural society was available to comment.

Earlier this month the society said it is in the process of drawing up a planning application for the path and expected to submit it in "the near future".

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