Pedestrianise Shropshire town's High Street on Saturdays, says council

A town council wants a plan for pedestrianising its High Street on Saturdays developed as a priority.

Bridgnorth Town Council has included its request for the popular historic street in its response to Shropshire Council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) consultation.

The submission details how it wants the street transformed into a “regular people-focused space for shopping, markets and social activity”.

The town council is holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss the response to the LTP at 5.45pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 10).

A similar pedestrianisation plan is already in place in Shrewsbury, where High Street is closed to vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays.

As well as urging Shropshire Council to consider the plan for Bridgnorth’s High Street the town council wants a “park and ride shuttle” linking Low Town and High Town.

The submission states: “The town council asks Shropshire Council to prioritise development of a Saturday pedestrianisation scheme for Bridgnorth High Street, creating a regular people-focused space for shopping, markets and social activity.

“Its objectives should include safer movement, improved accessibility, reduced exposure to traffic pollution and noise, and support for health and wellbeing and the High Street economy.

“Please work with the town council, traders, residents and disabled users on an assessed and enforceable scheme and an evaluated trial.

“Define operating hours, delivery windows and necessary arrangements for residents, disabled access, buses and emergency services.

“Assess displaced traffic and emissions on surrounding streets and publish the results.

“Assess the net effects on carbon emissions, pollution exposure and pedestrian safety across the affected network.”

Regarding the potential for a new park and ride service it adds: “The town council requests a feasibility and delivery assessment for a park and ride shuttle from Severn Park Car Park linking Low Town and High Town.

“This should include clear, coordinated signage on the approaches to Bridgnorth, directing visitors to the car park and publicising the shuttle service, supported by accessible information about operating times, frequency and fares.

“It should further test whether a frequent accessible service can reduce traffic and parking pressure in the historic centre, ease pedestrian crowding at constrained locations and provide a practical alternative for people unable to manage the gradients between High and Low Town.”

The submission asks Shropshire Council to look at safe boarding points and crossings, parking capacity, routes, operating days and hours, fares, demand, vehicle emissions, flood resilience and capital and revenue costs.

It also urges the authority to “coordinate the shuttle with Saturday pedestrianisation, existing buses, the cliff railway and any wider park and ride provision, while retaining safe and attractive walking routes.”

The report urges the council to “agree delivery and funding responsibilities before an evaluated pilot”.