New public seating planned for Shrewsbury's Abbey Foregate

New public seating will be in place on the route behind Shrewsbury Abbey by the end of next week.

Two ‘parklets’ with public seating and planting will be installed on the street's unused taxi rank between August 17 and 19.

Shropshire Council and the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership (BTPP) said they will then be planted with greenery by Shrewsbury Town Council later in the week.

They said the parklets are designed for safe use, with fencing on the carriageway side.

They added that the colours have been chosen with advice from the heritage team at Shropshire Council to reflect the local character of the Abbey area.

Further seating is planned for the street outside The Crown, with installation expected in spring next year.

Shrewsbury BID said the plans respond directly to an open consultation with businesses and the public in autumn 2025, in which nearly 400 people shared their experience of the area between Abbey Hardware and The Crown.

Asked to vote for the improvements they would most like to see, 69 per cent of respondents wanted more seating and 62 per cent wanted more greenery - the two additions due to arrive first.

A further 48 per cent wanted to see less traffic in the area, and Shropshire Council has responded by lowering the speed limit to 20 mph on Abbey Foregate (behind the Abbey), Horsefair, Railway Lane, Railway Terrace and Portobello.

The BID said that to improve accessibility, one additional blue badge space has been added, and the number of street parking spaces will be increased with the introduction of some angled parking spaces.

Both changes will also be brought in next week.

In addition, the area's history is being highlighted with a 'history window' which was installed in July to cover the frontage of the disused public toilets between Abbey Hardware and C21.

It features information on the most significant historic events tied to the area - from the Abbey's founding shortly after the Norman Conquest, to Richard II's Great Parliament and the area's role in the life of iconic poet Wilfred Owen.

The display was installed by the Men's Shed, who will also be restoring the area's historic red phone box to its former glory soon.

The BID said the work, funded principally by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), is designed to create a more pleasant gateway to the town in this historically important area - making it a place people will want to stop, stay and spend their time and money in.

Coming at the same time as the work is the development of a new pocket Ppark on disused land next to the railway bridge and Hair 21, co-ordinated by Shrewsbury BID and land-owner Martin Monahan - who is giving use of the land free of charge.

The pocket park development is being funded by UKSPF and will create a community space featuring seating, planting, bike hire and storage facilities, free public WiFi and a community garden.

Emma Molyneux, project lead at Shrewsbury BID, said: "Abbey Foregate is one of the most historically significant streets in Shrewsbury, and it deserves better than to be a place people just pass through.

“Nearly 400 people took the time to tell us what they wanted to see in the area, and it was clear from the start that seating and greenery were the priorities - so it's great that these are arriving first.

“We’ve seen great success with a similar parklet installed at Greyfriars in 2024, which has become a much-loved feature of the area for visitors and businesses alike, and we’re excited to roll the concept out in another area.”

Councillor Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s portfolio holder for transport and regeneration at Shropshire Council, said: "It's fantastic to be able to move ahead with these improvements and we’re really looking forward to seeing them in place and enhancing the environment for visitors to the area, as well as businesses. People told us clearly what they wanted for Abbey Foregate, and by the end of summer they'll be able to sit down and enjoy the results."

A statement from the BID on behalf of Shrewsbury Big Town Plan added: “During the installation, access will be maintained to all properties via a minor diversion.

“All businesses will remain open as usual.

“Following consultation with local businesses, loading permissions on the road remain largely unchanged.”