Church Stretton street parking spaces to stay

Controversial plans to remove eight on-street parking spaces on one of Church Stretton's busiest roads have been thrown out.

The plans, part of a £35,000 pavement-widening scheme on High Street, sparked fierce opposition from hundreds of residents. Critics claimed the scheme was a waste of money but supporters said widening was needed to make the town more 'friendly'.

Members of Shropshire Council's south planning committee yesterday shelved the scheme, which would have also removed the road's eight on-street parking spaces used by elderly and disabled residents.

At the meeting in Bridgnorth yesterday councillors voted five to four against the scheme with some claiming it had divided the town.

They added the issue should be revisited and expanded to include the possible introduction of a one- way traffic system throughout Church Stretton.

Helen Leathers, from the campaign group CROS (Concerned Residents of Stretton), spoke at the meeting on behalf of residents who had slammed the plans.

She said: "We have always maintained that if local people were for the scheme we would say fine, but that's not our opinion."

Church Stretton mayor Bob Welch who spoke in favour of the plans, said: "We have twice recommended that the pavement be widened. Its incontestable that the town has an unfriendly town centre.

"A survey in 2008 showed visitors found the town centre unfriendly. We've an in-creasing population of peo- ple over 65 with electric buggies. This scheme would address some of these problems."

Rosanna Taylor-Smith, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, said: "In my opinion this would spend money on a scheme which is not universally supported in the town. We should not proceed with this scheme."

Councillor Cecilia Motley, councillor for Corvedale, said: "This scheme is half a loaf. If we are to improve Church Stretton we need the full loaf – a one way system – which we don't have the money for."