Call for cash pot to help Ludlow traders

An emergency cash pot should be made available to help businesses in Ludlow struggling due to the closure of two main routes into the town, it was today claimed.

King Street, between its junction with Bull Ring and Broad Street, was closed yesterday for about four weeks to allow repairs to be carried out to some shops along the road, and repairs to stonework at Ludford Bridge, costing about £90,000 and lasting about nine weeks, are also taking place.

Now Councillor Jennifer Leyton-Purrier is writing to Ludlow Town Council to ask if there is anything that can be done to help support the town's businesses.

Councillor Leyton-Purrier said business owners were worried that the closure of the bridge was affecting their trade, with some claiming to be on the brink of closure.

She said: "It is very quiet out there. People are thinking that the town is closed altogether which is simply not the case. The town is open for business. Perhaps they can help the businesses with their rates to help them through the next few months."

Gina Wilding, for the council, said it was yet to receive a letter but the normal process was for items to go on the agenda for discussion.

The first part of the repair at Ludford Bridge got under way yesterday adding to the chaos. It involves erecting a scaffold platform to enable contractors access to the damaged part of the bridge. Once this is complete, work to repair the bridge itself will follow.

Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for transport and IT, said: "Every reasonable effort will be made to complete the work and reopen it as soon as possible."