Delighted with work to improve town

LETTER - Now the dust has settled - I hope - I would like to congratulate the Highways Department on the works which have been carried out in Shrewsbury recently.

Shrewsbury must be one of the most difficult towns in which to make major repairs.

While I sympathise with drivers who were held up, I think many people would agree that the town streets and pavements were beginning to look very untidy - not a good advertisement for a town which wants to attract tourists!

As a pedestrian I am delighted with the space and evenness of the pavements, particularly down Castle Street - no longer do I have to walk with my head down looking for uneven slabs.

And with the increased width of the walkway, even the largest baby buggy or electric wheelchair no longer takes up the entire width of the pavement.

It was probably the unfortunate that the closures coincided with the downturn of the economy nationally - not to mention internationally. But I don't think the county council can be held responsible for that.

I found it interesting that many shoppers commented on how pleasant it was to be able to walk round the town without having to battle with non-stop and often speeding traffic, so perhaps "lessons could be learned".

It would be even better if in some way - possibly by the strategic placing of bollards - drivers could be persuaded not to park on these new slabs. Not only do they damage them, but they also obstruct the pavements. Of course this may be out of concern for other drivers.

Dr M J Waller, Shrewsbury