Shropshire flooding: Shrewsbury recovers after highest river levels in 20 years
Much of Shrewsbury town centre remains cut off this afternoon as the town deals with the worst flooding in 20 years.
Levels on the River Severn peaked at 4.85m at Welsh Bridge at around 4am this morning - just 40cm below the highest ever recorded level which was recorded during the floods in 2000.
The water had only dropped by around 17 centimetres at 1pm, with several roads in the town closed as a result and much of the Quarry still under water.
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczyski has been in the town today and has said he will be calling for a debate on flooding in the Commons when Parliament returns on February 24.
He has also written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - George Eustice - asking for 'an urgent meeting with a range of local representatives to share our ambition for a potential ground-breaking solution that could have a massive impact throughout the whole of the River Severn catchment area'.
"We need much more Government funding to support businesses affected and more flood alleviation and defence schemes," he tweeted.
Motorists are being advised to avoid driving into the town centre as 17 road closures remain in place - including Coton Hill, Smithfield Road and both the English and Welsh Bridges.
Water was still covering Smithfield Road and Victoria Quay at lunchtime, while much of Coleham also remained flooded with businesses closed there as a result.
Other shut roads include Atcham to Cross Houses and Chiltern Farm Lane; Berwick Road; Sydney Avenue; Gravel Hill Lane; Roushill; Old Coleham; Coleham Head; Victoria Avenue; Williams Way; St Julian's Friars; Cressage to Eastern Constantine; Raven Meadows; Smithfield Road; Cressage to Eaton Constantine; Longden Coleham; Chester Street and Cross Street; Atcham to Berwick Wharf and B4380 Shrewsbury to Atcham.
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Shropshire Council has closed its car parks at Frankwell Riverside, Frankwell Main Car Park, Raven Meadows multi-storey and St Julian’s Friar’s Car Park.
The Gap off Raven Meadows, the NCP at Wyle Cop and Premier Inn Car Park are also shut.
The town's bus station has been closed and limited services are running from Frankwell Island, Abbey Foregate and New Park Road.
However, most of the town centre businesses are open today.
The London Road area of town was heavily congested this morning after a six-week lane closure was put in place by BT yesterday to allow cable work to be carried out.
However BT agreed to re-open the road until further notice while the town recovers from the flooding, which should help ease congestion on nearby Wenlock Road.
The A5 and most roads out of Shrewsbury have been extremely busy and slow moving since the water suddenly rose on Tuesday afternoon, with the Kingsland Toll Bridge the only bridge open into the town centre.
Several people had to be rescued on Monday afternoon after the river spilled over into Chester Street, Coleham and Smithfield Road.
Shropshire Council opened a rest centre at the United Reform Church in Shrewsbury on Monday night for those affected by the floods.
Surgeries closed
Riverside Medical Practice and Roushill Pharmacy have been forced to close due to the flooding.
An emergency hub has been set up to take calls to the GP surgery and can be contacted via the usual practice number - 01743 352371.
Roushill Pharmacy is expected to remain closed for the next few days.
A statement from NHS Shropshire CCG said: "If you have an urgent medical need please wait for your call to be answered for medical advice and/or urgent appointment.
"If you have a pre-booked routine appointment for today please contact the practice and they will advise where you can attend the appointment.
"If you want to book a routine appointment please call the practice towards the end of the week.
"For prescriptions please ring POD on 0333 358 3509 between 9am and 5pm or use Patient Access.
"A decision will be made this afternoon on whether the practice will be able to open tomorrow.
Roushill Pharmacy's partnering chemist, Severn Pharmacy, near to the Riverside Shopping Centre, is open and calls from Roushill have been diverted. Patients can contact the pharmacy on 01743 232857. All patient medication awaiting collection has been transferred to Severn Pharmacy and pedestrian access is available.
