Shrewsbury's English Bridge will not be cut to two lanes after public outcry
Road alterations which would have seen Shrewsbury's English Bridge cut down to two lanes have been abandoned due to the public reaction.
Shropshire Council has confirmed that the proposal has been dropped due to the public response to a consultation.
The plan was part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package and the move has been welcomed by Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council.
Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for highways and transport, confirmed the decision to drop the proposal.
He said: "The final designs for the work included in the integrated transport package have now been agreed and confirmed, based on the outcome of the recent public consultation, and on the engineering requirements.
"One change to the original plans is that the English Bridge will now remain as three lanes – rather than changing to two, which was one of the options under consideration.
"However, plans to improve the English Bridge gyratory and to introduce a new 'gateway' to the town centre in the English Bridge area are unchanged – and people can look forward to seeing significant improvements to traffic flow, and to the appearance of the road and pavements in this area once the work is completed."
Councillor Mosley said: "No one could understand the logic and advantages of reducing the width of the road considering there is adequate pavement there already.
"It is pleasing in the respect that they have been responsive to issues raised during the consultation."
Councillor Mosley said that he still has reservations over the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, particularly its lack of proposals for temporary pedestrianisation of High Street.
He said: "There continue to be objections to other parts of the scheme and the fact it does not go far enough in terms of looking at traffic within the town centre.
"The town council has expressed support for some additional trials on High Street to see how that could work as it would enhance the ambience and attraction for visitors, shoppers and many residents."
