Shropshire transport plan 'needs to be achievable'

A member of a sustainable transport group says that Shropshire Council has to ensure that the Local Transport Plan (LTP) is achievable.

The unitary authority has been holding a series of drop-in events where people can find out more about how they can help shape transport in the county over the next 10 years.

At this stage, Shropshire Council has produced a draft plan, with the final version set to be adopted next spring.

Covering 2027 to 2037, the council has set out five objectives that it says will guide transport investment – health and wellbeing, connecting to opportunities, decarbonisation, environmental protection, and supporting good economic growth.

It has also pinpointed 12 areas where it says it can turn the objections into actions – public transport, road safety, action travel, inclusive accessibility, rural accessibility, digital transformation, managing people’s transport needs now and in the future, access to future homes and jobs, goods and deliveries, maintaining roads, pavements and transport infrastructure, looking after places that make Shropshire special, and tackling climate change, lower carbon technologies and air quality.

The public consultation runs until November 16, with events already being held in Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury.

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At the latter, Michael Willmot, a member of Sustainable Transport Shropshire, said: “Although I find it difficult to fault much of what I’m reading, I’m waiting to see them to actually form an action plan.

“The cycling around Shrewsbury has hardly been improved in the last 10 years since they made their cycling team redundant.

“So, again, they say they’re promoting cycling, but until we see some improved cycle routes going into town, it’s difficult to see how that’s going to be achieved. But that requires investment, I understand that.

“But I think this new Lib Dem council is taking more active steps and is trying to achieve something.”

Jennie Perks, meanwhile, wants more bus services in the town.

“There’s lot of places I can’t get to,” she said.

“It will be quite nice to get to Salop Leisure, but there’s no bus that goes past it.”

This week, Shropshire Council announced that the Meole Brace Park and Ride service will carry on for at least another three years after initially saying that it would be withdrawn.

One of the campaigners who actively tried to get the decision reversed and set up a petition is Christine Hart.

She said she was delighted with the news, and understands why the council is proposing to make changes to car park tariffs. This includes reducing the price at Frankwell to match Abbey Foregate.

“People travel across there because it’s cheaper, then it’s full so they travel back to Frankwell,” said Ms Hart.

“I don’t care if they put the prices up in the car parks because I want everyone to use public transport. And that will make such a difference.

Councillor Rob Wilson, portfolio holder for transport and regeneration, said there has so far been a healthy debate at the events.

“Transport connects everyone in their daily lives and is incredible important to people,” he said.

“I think a lot of people are recognising what they want to see. Public transport has really come out as a strong theme. People want more options in how they travel around their towns.

“This is how Shropshire is going to spend its Government funding for the next 10 years, so it’s a really important document to make sure we’re going in the right direction. The public need to have their say so we can hear what they want transport in Shropshire to be like.

“I was in Bridgnorth on Monday and that has its own challenges with the different levels of the town. There’s issues with parking in the high street and the lack of buses. I heard from one person about the bus from Bridgnorth to Telford. It’s a really short drive but has about 69 stops.

“This is their chance to say what they want and is a really good time for us to listen.”

Councillor Wilson also thinks the plan is more achievable than previous ones.

“We’re not talking about really expensive, big infrastructure projects which in my mind Shropshire has failed at in the past,” he said.

“It’s about local interventions that really improve things on people’s doorsteps.

“It will be delivered by multi-year government funding and it means the council can plan how it is doing things in the next 10 years.”

Further consultation events will be held at Bishop’s Castle Town Hall (October 19, 11am to 4pm), St Alkmunds Parish Church, Whitchurch (October 22, 10am to 3pm), Ludlow Assembly Rooms (November 3, 2pm to 7pm) and Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton (November 9, midday to 5pm).

There will also be online webinars on October 20 (midday to 1pm) and November 2 (6pm to 7pm).

Full details about the LTP can be found here, where you can also complete an online questionnaire.