Shrewsbury pedestrianisation scheme gets council go-ahead
A £200,000 pedestrianisation scheme to improve one of the main gateways into Shrewsbury town centre has been approved by councillors.
Members of Shropshire Council's central planning committee yesterday voted unanimously to press ahead with making the traffic scheme at the bottom of Wyle Cop and St Julian's Friars permanent.
In March, the new one-way system along Williams Way and St Julian's Crescent – as well as the closure of St Julian's Friars for traffic – was trialled and had broadly been met with approval, the meeting was told.
The council will also look to implement an "enhancement scheme" which will involve roads and footways being resurfaced and a pedestrian crossing put in.
The scheme is designed to improve access for the estimated 4,000 pedestrians and cyclists who use Wyle Cop every day as well as helping to better manage safe traffic flows through the town centre.
Councillor Mansel Williams said it had proven to be a "good, officer-led proposal" which had seen extensive consultations held with the public.
And local member Andrew Bannerman, who represents Quarry and Coton Hill, said: "It is working considerably better than many feared when it first began and I'm completely convinced we've got to do this and should finish the job."
The initiative is part of a wider aim to drive up tourism income in Shrewsbury to £210 million by 2015 – up by £73 million on the current £137 million generated annually in the county town.
A report which went to members said: "St Julian's Friars and the lower section of Wyle Cop are in much need of investment to improve the viability of this area of town."
