Still no timescale on Ludlow town wall repairs
There is still no timescale for repairs to be carried out to the collapsed historic Ludlow town walls.
Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow has said negotiations are ongoing and that there will be a quick resolution after a historic section of the walls behind St Laurence Church, on Upper Linney, collapsed more than 18 months ago.
Ludlow North Councillor Andy Boddington requested answers from Councillor Barrow as to why no taskforce has been set up to deal with the repairs at a meeting of Shropshire Council's full council yesterday.
With both Ludlow Town Council and the Diocese of Hereford denying responsibility for the repairs, Councillor Boddington wanted the council to clarify its position and give a timescale for the repairs.
He said: "This all started back in February 2013.
"A major section of Ludlow's town walls collapsed beside the graveyard of St Laurence's church.
"Shropshire Council initially acted with alacrity with former cabinet member Martin Taylor-Smith promising urgent action and funding.
"But since then nothing almost has happened – except that the security fencing has been vandalised, the temporary supports for the vulnerable areas of the wall are in a state of collapse, human bones have been carried away by dogs and officials argue over responsibility."
Councillor Barrow said he was well aware of the problems and reassured things were moving forward - although offered no timescale for action.
He said: "I was there when we had to evacuate people and put the up in a Premier Inn when this happened.
"Negotiations are ongoing and the people of Ludlow can rest assured that it will get sorted quickly."
Ludlow Town Council last month pointed the finger at Shropshire Council in an official letter, stating that the repairs – which could end up costing £1 million – are up to the county-wide authority.
In a letter to Shropshire's legal services department, town clerk Gina Wilding stated that responsibility for maintaining the walls transferred to Shropshire Council in 2012. The letter follows an assertion by Shropshire Council that repairs had been held up because the situation was "complicated" and discussions were taking placeabout who owned the 30-foot stretch bordering the church yard at St Laurence's Church.
