Shifnal could rip up street markings in 'shared spaces' scheme

Shifnal is inviting an expert to visit the town as part of a plan to become the first town in the county to operate a 'shared spaces' scheme.

Ben Hamilton-Bailie, Britain's leading expert on shared spaces, will meet town councillors on Friday.

He believes that by removing signs and lines, drivers are forced to be more careful and the number of accidents falls dramatically.

Shared space has already been embraced in Holland, where the concept's creator Hans Monderman lived, as well as in parts of Britain including in London, Kent and Cheshire.

One of the first schemes to be trialled in Britain was in Ashford, in Kent. Although the scheme was met with mixed responses, it led to a 41 per cent drop in accidents in which people were injured.

Part of the Southwater development in Telford will also incorporate the concept.

The proposal for the shared spaces scheme in Shifnal is the flagship project of Shifnal Forward, a group of local people that works with the town council for plans to improve life in the town.

The group believe this approach will be the best way to help the town manage the significant increase in households and traffic congestion that will arise with the new housing development being built in the town.

Currently, Shifnal is earmarked for 1,600 homes by 2026, and the plans could see its population grow by up to 60 per cent.

This increase has caused huge concerns from residents about how traffic will be managed on the town's already constricted road.

The shared spaces plan, they hope, will be one way to get around the issues.

Chris Raine, a member of Shifnal Forward, said: "The aims of the scheme are to improve traffic flow, safety and access for pedestrians and traffic alike and enhance the town as a place to live, shop and work.

"The concept of shared spaces means pedestrians are given much higher priority in the street scene than is the case at the moment when traffic rules and pedestrians have to get out of their way.

"This approach is not in fact new and was the case before we had the traffic levels of today.

"With shared space, traffic has to slow down and look before they go ahead."

Shifnal Forward is working closely with Shifnal Town Council and with the support of the Shropshire Council to host a meeting on Friday, with Ben Hamilton-Bailie.

Mr Hamilton-Bailie will be walking around the town before putting together a proposal that he will present to members of the group, local headteachers, special interest groups and the council in the evening. Though there is, as yet, no funding for the proposal, the group will be looking into funding resources following the presentation.

The Shropshire Star revealed on Saturday that towns in the county were looking at the concept.

Our Facebook page has been full of debate on the issue since it was raised. And readers are split between curiosity and support to downright hostility.

Many say they are fed up with the obsession highways chiefs have with cluttering our roads and welcomed the plans.

Michael Wilkinson said he was involved with the Telford Millennium Community, a new village based in Ketley.

He said: "When it was being planned over 15 years ago we were taken to a Dutch town called Ecolonia to see for ourselves how shared space works. It does and does so very well.

"Most motorists are, contrary to the opinion of people that run our towns and highways, sensible, so sharing space between pedestrians cyclists and vehicles is not a difficult object to achieve.

Matthew James added: " I have encountered shared space schemes in Europe and ever since have always said that it is a solution to some traffic problems."

But Charlotte Parry said: "This is such a dangerous idea, especially for disabled pedestrians. "How does a blind person cross the road? How does a deaf person know if a car is behind them?

"Guide dog users will be at risk too as guide dogs are trained to find the kerb as there will be no kerbs in shared spaces." Lorraine Berry added: "It may work in Holland but this is England. It would be a nightmare and a better use of the money would be to fix the roads instead."