Church Stretton backs pavement widening plans - by a whisker

A survey of 200 Church Stretton residents has shown a "narrow majority" in favour of a controversial £75,000 pavement-widening scheme in the town centre, it was revealed today.

Mayor Bob Welch said the consultation had indicated most people wanted seven on-street parking spaces to be removed to allow the changes to take place without having to introduce a one-way traffic system in the High Street.

Some shop owners have criticised the plans over the loss of parking, with Jane van Doesburg, chairman of Church Stretton Chamber of Trade, having called for no change to the streets.

Mr Welch accepted there was still disagreement about the plans, but said the council would need to consider new disability legislation when making its decision at a meeting on Tuesday.

He said: "People prefer option one, which would see the widening of the pavements and the retaining of two-way traffic flow and the council needs to bear this information in mind.

"We now have to consider that result with the new equality legislation, requiring local authorities to take in account disabled people's needs, in mind."

Councillor James Gibson, who represents the town on Shropshire Council, has also asked for the scheme to be dropped. Councillors meet at 7pm on Tuesday at the Silvester Horne Institute.