Call to consider more pedestrian areas in Shrewsbury transport scheme

The public consultation period on Shropshire Council's proposals for a Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Plan closed yesterday, with the authority set to consider the public views before taking its next step.

Councillor Alan Mosley, who represents Castlefields and Ditherington and is leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said he believed the proposals should have considered pedestrianising parts of the town centre.

He said: "Clearly it is a controversial scheme, I personally would have liked to see more thorough proposals for removing some of the traffic issues in the centre which might have included some experimental work involving pedestrianisation.

"Obviously the town council has called for the officer to come and discuss our reservations about the scheme and how it will impact on freeing up the town and resolving traffic congestion issues.

"So we will look forward to having that meeting and looking at it in depth. Then we will come to some conclusion about making a recommendation."

A Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth proposal for the council to launch a trial pedestrianisation of High Street was rejected when the scheme was being drawn up.

The group has criticised the plans in recent weeks, questioning whether they will lead to a reduction in traffic in the town.

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.

However, Matt Johnson, Strategic Transport and Contracts Manager at Shropshire Council, has 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."