Calls to get on with Shrewsbury museum traffic trial
A trial to change the flow of traffic outside a major Shrewsbury tourist attraction should be carried out as soon as possible, a councillor has claimed.
Shropshire Councillor Andrew Bannerman, who represents Quarry and Coton Hill, want the local authority to press ahead with a trial which would reverse the one-way direction of traffic on Princess Street and Market Street in the town.
Currently the road, which runs outside Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, is "access only" but despite attempts to enforce the ban some drivers are still using it to bypass town centre traffic.
Councillor Bannerman said: "My question is why on earth have we not trialled it by now? The idea has been around for months, why on earth can we not just try it out.
"I have asked since the museum was opened, what are we going to do about this conflict immediately outside the door?"They have ummed and ahhed, the police have done their bit and we have not moved it forward. Let's get on and do it."
Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said that the idea should either be trialled, or there should be rigorous enforcement of the current regulations.
He said: "I certainly think that reversing the flow of traffic is a valid idea and could be introduced for a trial period to evaluate the impact."
Earlier this week councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for highways, said that the authority is investigating whether reversing the traffic flow would have an effect. However, he said that while it needed to be addressed, the problem was being overstated.
He said: "Traffic driving past the front of Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery has been an issue since the museum opened in 2014.
"The perception of the problem is probably greater than the reality, but I agree that something does need to be done, as much for the feel and use of The Square by pedestrians and shoppers as for safety considerations."
Councillor Jones said that the police had taken "significant" action to tackle the issue, but that it remains a problem.
He said: "There are controls in place: Princess Street and Market Street are access only and anyone using it as a cut through is committing an offence. The police have undertaken some significant enforcement action but it remains a problem and it's difficult to change behaviours."
