Action demanded over Whitchurch town centre square plagued by trip hazards, dark spots and crime fears

A multi-agency meeting could be held to agree how safety and accessibility concerns at the Bullring in Whitchurch should be addressed.

Shropshire Council said it wants relevant services and local partners to assess the pedestrianised town-centre space and establish a coordinated plan.

A Shropshire Council spokesperson said: "Shropshire Council recognises the concerns that have been raised regarding the Bullring in Whitchurch and is proposing a multi-agency site meeting to bring together the relevant council services and local partners to review the issues and agree a coordinated way forward.

"The meeting will consider immediate measures to help address identified risks, alongside longer-term options relating to paving, drainage, trees, accessibility, lighting and CCTV visibility and wider public realm improvements.

"The aim is to establish clear responsibilities, potential funding and the next steps needed to progress a practical and sustainable solution."

Councillor Andy Hall (Lib Dems, Whitchurch North) has highlighted uneven paving, raised gratings, slippery fallen leaves and blocked drains. He has also raised concerns about reduced street lighting, obstructed CCTV coverage and anti-social behaviour.

He said: "These issues affect public safety, accessibility, confidence in the town centre and the positive use of this important public space.

"An urgent joint site assessment and a deliverable improvement plan are required. Immediate risks must be reduced while partners develop a sustainable solution that balances safety, accessibility, crime prevention, environmental considerations and available funding.

"I have repeatedly raised the health and safety implications and propose an on-site meeting to agree a practical way forward."

Councillor Hall said the portfolio holder for highways at Shropshire Council, David Vasmer, had requested advice on the safety issues. He added that the trees had been described as overly dominant, with removal or selective retention among the options raised.

He said Mike McDonald, Whitchurch Town Council clerk, had passed on advice from Whitchurch Safer Neighbourhood Team and its Design Out Crime officers about lighting, CCTV obstruction and anti-social behaviour, as well as requesting a formal report.

PC Mark Bates of West Mercia Police had outlined crime-prevention concerns and proposed lifting the lower tree canopy while CCTV coverage was monitored during the work, Councillor Hall said.

He added that Dave Seager, building manager at the Watergate Centre, had relayed Beacon Church’s concerns about trip hazards, slippery leaves and blocked drains. Replacement planting and repairs to the paved area had also been proposed.

Councillor Hall wants Shropshire Council’s tree, highways, public realm, drainage and funding teams to work alongside Whitchurch Town Council, police, local premises and community organisations.

Measures suggested include pruning and canopy lifting, selective removal or replacement of trees, retaining one suitable central tree, levelling paving and gratings, clearing and inspecting drains, and redesigning the space to accommodate markets and community events.

He also called for funding options to be examined, including Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding and relevant public-realm, highways, community-safety or environmental budgets. He said decisions should be supported by an arboriculture assessment, accessibility review, confirmation of land and maintenance responsibilities, and input from police and the town council.

Councillor Hall said: "A durable solution will require joint ownership and swift, coordinated action. I therefore ask all partners to commit to an urgent site meeting, transparent evidence-sharing and a costed action plan that addresses immediate risks and secures a practical, accessible and environmentally responsible future for the Bullring."