Rubbish blocking the way in shuts
Residents in Shrewsbury are fly-tipping in the county town's historic shuts, leaving items including ironing boards and a storage heater blocking the routes.
Residents in Shrewsbury are fly-tipping in the county town's historic shuts, leaving items including ironing boards and a storage heater blocking the routes.
Members of Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association carry out regular monitoring walks around the town, reporting litter and graffiti in the old passageways to Tidy Shrewsbury.
During the checks for July members discovered an ironing board and a storage heater in the Compasses Passage as well as scrap paper, plastic milk bottles and polystyrene packaging in the King's Head Passage.
The abuse of the shuts comes not long after a project was launched to encourage visitors to explore the historic passageways. Many shuts have been designated as public rights of way.
Rosemary Thornes, chairwoman of Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association, said: "One of my first jobs when I joined the committee almost five years ago, was to consider ways to encourage the care and use of the shuts.
"Cleanliness was clearly of great importance and I joined with Lyn Leach in a regular monitoring walk. This exercise has been streamlined by Gerry Smith, who regularly walks the shuts and sends a monthly report to the council.
"In July, King's Head passage received this treatment and Compasses Passage was also reported for fly-tipping."