Call to rip out Shrewsbury Smithfield Road refuge

A new central reservation in Shrewsbury should be ripped out because it is dangerous, causing traffic chaos and a "complete waste of money", it was claimed today.

Councillor Peter Nutting said he would ask fellow members of Shrewsbury Town Council to demand an urgent review into the pedestrian crossing in Smithfield Road.

He today claimed that pressure needed to be put on Shropshire Council to remove the pedestrian refuge - less than six months after it was installed.

The councillor said he was going to ask the town council at the next full council meeting to ask Shropshire Council to review whether the crossing - which was installed as part of the £1.8m Cycle Shrewsbury project - should be there.

He added: "I believe it's dangerous and it slows traffic down causing congestion on the Welsh Bridge and it backs up to Copthorne Road where it's starting to affect residents in my area.

"I don't believe it serves any useful purpose. It's in a position where pedestrians don't naturally cross. The whole thing has been a complete waste of public money."

Taxi drivers have previously claimed it was unsafe and damaging business.

But Richard Harman, for Shropshire Council, claimed at the time that the crossing had been trialled in the summer and was shown to have "limited impacts" on traffic.