Shrewbury enhancement scheme phase 2 to begin

Press release - 22 August 2007

The second phase of a £1.3 million Shropshire County Council scheme to improve and unify the pavements through Shrewsbury is set to begin early next month (Monday 3 September).

This second phase, to take place over ten weeks, will include work to replace the pavements on Wyle Cop with new, high quality Yorkstone paving and granite kerbs.

Also included in these plans is the introduction of a number of designated courtesy pedestrian crossings, improved access for buses and the resurfacing of the road.

To enable these improvement works to be carried out safely, Wyle Cop will need to be closed to traffic travelling up towards the High Street for the duration of the works.

Due to the narrow nature of the street, Wyle Cop will also have to be closed to traffic travelling both ways on a number of Sundays so that work can take place to complete the paving safely.

During this one way closure traffic will be diverted onto Town Walls, Claremont Bank, Smithfield Road, Castle Street and Dogpole.

Shops and businesses will be open as usual on Wyle Cop and loading will be retained wherever possible. Buses will be diverted along Beeches Lane and St John’s Hill, dropping passengers off at Barker Street.

John Everall, Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “I am extremely pleased to see this necessary work begin. I feel it will greatly contribute to a place where people will want to live, work and visit by providing a unified and high quality gateway to our county town.

“I would like to apologise in advance for any disruption these works may cause, however I would like to reassure people that we will take every step feasible to keep these to a minimum.”

This work is expected to be completed by Friday 16 November and follows a successful initial phase which has dramatically improved the appearance of the important Castle Gates gateway to the town.

Ends

For further information, call Keith Jones, Senior Projects Engineer on (01743) 253144.
For media contact, call Laura Owen, Communications Officer, Economy & Environment on (01743) 253318.