Extra parking spaces in plans for Shrewsbury's Dana Prison

Experts were unhappy with the original designs for The Dana because of worries about a lack of parking, the impact of traffic visiting the site and because the plans represent "a cramped and over-intensive use of the site".

Officers recommended refusal, but Shropshire Council's central planning committee deferred a decision on the outline application last month to allow those behind the regeneration to alter their designs.

Today, drawings showing an extra 16 spaces alongside the wall of the building on The Dana itself have been added to the planning application which has been lodged with planners.

In a document submitted alongside the drawings, it is said that the applicant will seek a Traffic Regulation Order to remove yellow lines which are currently in place.

It read: "We recognise that in the vicinity of The Dana there is limited short-stay car parking for visitors who might wish to access the site to use the facilities. To help to provide such short-stay car parking capability and so help to avoid any demand on existing on-street car parking we propose to introduce a row of car parking spaces adjacent to the gaol which provides this capacity.

"While this street is currently yellow lined alongside the prison wall this would have been to avoid vehicles parking next to the wall that might have assisted prisoners in escaping from the gaol.

"With this problem no longer existing we would seek a Traffic Regulation Order to omit the yellow lines, make the street one way and introduce car parking running alongside the wall of the gaol on one side of the street." "This not only helps with additional car parking but will also slow traffic in the area and will allow for future openings in the prison wall to be provided, giving pedestrian access and ensuring that it is easier for pedestrians to cross the road safely as traffic will be slower.

It continues:"An additional 16 spaces have been identified on the plan. These will be sought under a further Traffic Regulation Order which will establish these as one or two-hour short-stay spaces, exact period to be agreed with the Highway Authority."

Councillor Alan Mosley, who represents Castlefields and Ditherington, said he would have liked the time allocated by the deferral spent coming up with more substantial plans.

He said: "It is good that the applicant recognises that the massive parking problems which the development will bring throughout the area are critical and must be addressed. However, this proposal is entirely inadequate and will bring increased problems of road safety and potential highly significant problems for traffic.

"To bring parking to this busy narrow road would be irresponsible.

"It is a great shame that they haven't used the time since they asked for a deferral of the decision making, to come up with some substantial and realistic changes to accommodate the overwhelming objections."