Lower Corve Street to reopen

Lower Corve Street in Ludlow is now anticipated to reopen to local through traffic on the 4 August 2008. It was hoped that the street would be reopened on the 28 July, however additional time was required to ensure all traffic orders were in place.

Shropshire County Council is reopening the street early following concerns from local residents and businesses about disruption to trade from the road closure.

The council closed the street last year due to the exceptional flooding, resulting in the collapse of Burway Bridge. This street will now reopen before the new bridge is completed, which is expected to be in December 2008, in the hope that this will minimise disruption during this essential work.

Various temporary measures including two way traffic lights and a pavement for pedestrians on Bromfield Bridge, as well as a 20mph speed limit and a weight restriction on Corve Street will be introduced to ensure people using this road are safe.

These measures will not affect existing parking facilities on Corve Street and once the Burway Bridge works are completed Lower Corve Street will revert back to access only.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience these works will cause. We are pleased that we have been able to carry out the requests of the local community and reopen this road.

“We hope that these temporary measures will enable Lower Corve Street to reopen, whilst ensuring the safety of road users and the workforce.”

Viv Parry and Peter Corston, Shropshire County Councillors for Ludlow, said: “We have looked fully into the safety considerations of road users and especially the safety of Ludlow school pupils. We feel that this work endorses the commitment of the council and local members to listen and act on local concerns.

“We hope that reopening Lower Corve Street will encourage tourists and locals to shop in the town and ease traffic problems.”

28 July 2008