Shrewsbury £12 million roads revamp scheme criticism dismissed
Criticisms of a £12 million revamp for Shrewsbury's roads and town centre have been dismissed by Shropshire Council.
Shrewsbury's Friends of the Earth Group had questioned whether changes planned as part of the "Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Plan", would provide value for money or reduce the amount of cars using the town's roads.
However, Matt Johnson, Strategic Transport and Contracts Manager at Shropshire Council, said he believes the scheme will deliver on the aims of Friends of the Earth.
He said: "The Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Plan is designed to reduce unnecessary traffic through the river loop area, rebalance priorities between pedestrian and motorists at key locations within the town, and enhance facilities for cyclists and sustainable travel into and out of the town as a part of its stated aims.
"As such, we would envisage that the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Plan will go a long way to delivering on many of the aspirations outlined by Shrewsbury's Friends of the Earth."
Mr Johnson said that the council would consider the friends of the earth comments as part of their consultation.
He said: "Given that the SITP is currently still within its consultation phase, their comments will be collated with the wide range of feedback already collected, and these will in turn will inform the final scheme designs. Once these are finalised the impacts on many of the key indicators mentioned within the town will be outlined as part of the Final Business Case."
Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth group member Frank Oldaker had said the council should look at targets for increasing journeys using bicycles in the town, and reducing the number of cars.
He said: "The Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package has some important objectives. But what will we see by the end? The package does not tell us. It states objectives. But how much economic growth will result? How much will congestion be reduced? How many vehicles will leave the town centre roads? How many more people will cycle or walk? It is entirely possible that we will end up with very little to show for £12.1.million spend."
The scheme includes proposals to improve the appearance of Pride Hill, The Square and Mardol, as well as changes to major junctions and traffic systems, intended to reduce congestion throughout the town.
A joint proposal from Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth and Bus Users Shropshire to shut High Street off to cars for part of the week was rejected while the plans were being drawn up.
Shropshire Council has invited further comment on the current proposals up until March 29, when the consultation period closes.
The details of the plan and the feedback options can be found at http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/shrewsbury-integrated-transport-package/
