Fears for safety in Shrewsbury street

Chris Raine fears that the lack of traffic calming and a 20 mile hour speed limit will lead to accident on New Street in Porthill.

Shropshire Council has put community-led road safety schemes currently in its programme on hold until at least 2020. It says money is still be available for work funded by the Department of Transport for accident clusters and high priority sites.

But Ms Raine says that she wants to prevent road accidents not see improvements made because of them.

"I want to prevent accidents, not count them," she said.

"The pavement is narrower that the recommended width and are heavily used as a route into the town centre."

She spoke at a recent meeting of Shrewsbury Town Council.

Ms Raine asked whether Shrewsbury council would urge Shropshire Council to extend their current plan for the 20mph speed limit implementation in the `Loop` and over the Welsh Bridge to include in the Frankwell roundabout, New Street up to Pengwern Road junction, Copthorne Road up to the Bricklayers Arms and the Mount up to Barrack Lane and the connecting roads.

She also asked what steps were being made to improve pedestrian safety in New Street.

"The Frankwell Roundabout and the Theatre Severn are part of the nightime and visitor economy in Shrewsbury and Frankwell is also the gateway into the town from the west and Wales," she said.

"Extending the 20mph zone to these areas would make a strong statement to drivers that they are expected to slow down and drive accordingly through the town centre. It would also bring benefits to residents, local business and visitors accessing the Quarry and town centre over the Porthill pedestrian Bridge with improvements to pedestrian safety."

Town clerk, Helen Ball, said Shrewsbury Town Council has already written to Shropshire Council.

She said that Shropshire Council was unlikely to go ahead with any community led road safety scheme until at lead 2020.