Street acts planned while roads closed

Street entertainment will be provided in Shrewsbury town centre to combat any potential loss in business for traders while two busy roads are closed.

St Mary's Street and Dogpole are being closed to through traffic during April and May to enable essential road works to be carried out. Both roads will be closed for eight weeks for the third phase of the town centre enhancement scheme.

It is being carried out to improve pavements and introduce pedestrian facilities.

While the streets are closed Shropshire County Council will also trial the town centre as a more pedestrian friendly area by reducing traffic.

As part of the trial and to boost trade while the roads are closed, St Mary's Street will play host to live performances on Saturdays from 11am until 3pm between April 12 and May 17.

Jeremy Salisbury, the county council's principal engineer (projects), said: "We very much welcome local acts to come forward and be part of this pedestrian friendly trial.

"The final phase of this scheme has provided us with a unique opportunity to do this, something of which has been a long-standing objective of the council and its many stakeholders.

"We have been working closely with stakeholders and local residents to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum and we hope that the works will run smoothly and efficiently."

The county council is working with the borough council, St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury Lions Society, Vast Entertainments and town centre trader John Hall to organise the performances.

Anybody interested in performing on St Mary's Street during the closure can contact (01743) 253318.