Shropshire Star

See what changes the council is proposing to make to transport, travel and public spaces in Ludlow

A set of proposals have been published today to give pedestrians an "improved experience" of Ludlow and to slow down drivers.

Published
Ludlow Castle. Picture: Shropshire Council.

Local residents and businesses have been encouraged to comment on which of the ideas they would like to see progressed – if funding becomes available.

Public support will be vital if the schemes are to move forward, says Shropshire Council.

The proposals include changes to public spaces, walking and cycling infrastructure, bus connections, and wayfinding.

Further details of the proposals can be found on the Shropshire Council website, where comments can be left until Sunday March 3.

The key proposals for Ludlow include:

Galdeford Masterplan – A number of schemes which will provide an "improved pedestrian experience" and enhanced gateway into the Ludlow town centre

Bull Ring – Public space changes and improved pedestrian priority crossings

Tower Street – Pedestrian gateway, public space changes and time-restricted loading

King Street – Public space and streetscape improvements

Broad Street – Streetscape improvements to provide a more welcoming and prioritised environment for pedestrians

Castle Square – A series of schemes to enhance Castle Square and prioritise pedestrian movements

Wayfinding Trail – To support enhanced pedestrian movements around the town.

The council says these "opportunities" have been identified through extensive data analysis, site assessments and engagement with council officers and key stakeholders to ensure they align with the council’s climate programme and commitments.

A spokesperson for the council said: "To secure funding, any proposals first need to have public backing.

"Shropshire Council is therefore asking people for their thoughts on these initial ideas – and to suggest any of their own – before any further work is carried out to develop the schemes."

People can comment on the proposals on the council website until Sunday March 3. A drop-in engagement event is at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday February 16 between 10am and 4pm.

"The feedback and comments received through this public engagement exercise will help to inform how the proposed schemes are progressed," said a spokesperson. "The feedback will be reviewed and incorporated in a final Ludlow Future Transport and Movement Plan which will be released publicly in Spring 2024."

Councillor Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said: “This is very much an emerging list of projects for Ludlow that could be carried out in the coming months and years, if there is public support, and if funding can be secured.

"We hope it’s a list that will grab people’s attention and generate debate and discussion. It’s exciting to be able to put these ideas on the table and ask local people what they think.

“This exercise demonstrates that the council is working hard on ways to improve transport, and access investment, in Ludlow, as well in many other towns across the county.”

The outcomes of this public engagement exercise will be critical for helping to develop a ‘future connectivity plan’ for Ludlow.

Galdeford Masterplan

Galdeford Masterplan – A number of schemes aimed at an improved pedestrian experience and enhanced gateway into the Ludlow town centre. Picture: Shropshire Council

Galdeford Masterplan will deliver a number of schemes which will provide an "improved pedestrian experience" and enhanced gateway into the Ludlow town centre. Pedestrian improvements around Ludlow Railway Station will help to enhance the arrival experience into the town and improved wayfinding will guide visitors from the station area into the town centre.

The scheme will also improve the existing Galdeford Car Park area by consolidating existing spaces through the implementation of a ‘green’ decked parking structure.

The space made available through the consolidation of car parking at Galdeford will be considered for the delivery of a multi-modal transport hub which will support seamless journeys from public transport to other sustainable modes such as walking and cycling.

Bull Ring

Bull Ring – Public space and pedestrian priority crossings. Image: Shropshire Council

Bull Ring option 1

Bull Ring – Public space and pedestrian priority crossings. Image: Shropshire Council

Bull Ring option 2

This scheme will deliver public space improvements and pedestrian priority crossings along Bull Ring to support safer pedestrian movements into the town centre. These improvements will reduce traffic speeds to create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians on one of the gateways into the town centre. An option to deliver a segregated cycleway along Bull Ring has also been explored as part of the proposals.

Tower Street

Tower Street – Pedestrian gateway, public space improvements and time-restricted loading. Picture: Shropshire Council

To create a pedestrian gateway into the town centre, public space improvements and time restricted loading is proposed for Tower Street. The public space improvements would include footway widening and enhanced surfacing of the street to create a sense of pedestrian priority. This would be supported by improved wayfinding and signage into the town centre and new planting and vegetation.

King Street

King Street – Public space and streetscape changes. Picture. Shropshire Council

Public space changes are proposed for King Street to reduce vehicular traffic speeds and to prioritise pedestrian movements on a key shopping street in Ludlow.

These improvements include an enhanced crossing point at the junction of King Street, Tower Street and Old Street in the form of a raised table, carriageway and footway surfacing and the installation of new planters and vegetation along the street.

Broad Street

Broad Street – Streetscape changes to provide a "more welcoming and prioritised environment for pedestrians". Picture: Shropshire Council

To provide a more welcoming and prioritised environment for pedestrians and to reduce vehicular speeds, streetscape improvements are proposed for Broad Street. These include the installation of a raised table at the junction of Broad Street and High Street to support safer pedestrian movements in the heart of the town centre alongside carriageway and footway resurfacing along Broad Street to create a sense of pedestrian priority.

Castle Square

Castle Square – A series of schemes to enhance Castle Square and prioritise pedestrian movements. Picture: Shropshire Council

Castle Square is the key focal point in Ludlow town centre. To enhance this space and prioritise pedestrian movements, a series of public space schemes are proposed. These schemes include the installation of a raised table between High Street and Castle Street, carriageway and footway resurfacing and the installation of greenery and vegetation on Castle Square and Castle Street to reduce vehicular speeds in the heart of the town centre.

Wayfinding Trail

Improved wayfinding is needed in Ludlow to support enhanced pedestrian movements around the town. To achieve this high quality signage at key entry points into the town centre such as Ludlow Railway Station, Galdeford Car Park and Dinham need to be installed. To support this a permanent wayfinding trail which guides visitors around the town would be beneficial to enhance pedestrian movements around Ludlow.

To find out more and take part in the council consultation, visit the consultation website

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