Context: The Bicton to Shrewbury Town Centre Active Travel Corridor

Over the years, residents and visitors to Shrewsbury have raised a number of concerns relating to the high volumes of traffic, particularly through or ‘rat-running’ traffic, on residential streets. These concerns have highlighted the impact high traffic volumes as well as traffic speeds have had on the ability of people to walk, cycle and cross roads safely in the area.

Concerns regarding high traffic volumes and speeds, and the impact that these have on public health and the environment, have been recognised by the government, who have set a national target for half of all journeys in towns and cities being cycled or walked by 2030 (Gear Change – A Bold Vision for Walking and Cycling). The government’s target to increase active travel use will help tackle some of the most challenging issues we face both nationally and locally as a society, including:

  • Tackling traffic congestion through reducing car use, particularly for short journeys and for ‘rat-running’
  • Improving air quality
  • Combatting climate change
  • Improving health and wellbeing
  • Addressing inequalities

In line with the government target, Shropshire Council is looking to implement a series of walking, cycling and bus priority improvements across Shropshire to increase levels of walking, cycling and public transport (active travel).

Many active travel improvements are yet to be identified through the development of the Shropshire Local Cycling and Walking Implementation Plan (LCWIP) and the Bus Back Better Strategy, both currently in development

We have secured funding through the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund (£250,500) as well as DfT’s Capability Fund (£70,000) which has provided us with the opportunity to progress some work ahead of the development of the LCWIP.

Due to the high level of projected growth in residential development, as well as the high current and projected cycle flows to and from Shrewsbury town centre, we've identified Shrewsbury West as our first area in which to progress studies and trial changes to the network to provide for more walking and cycling. In the future, we'll seek to use our learnings from these studies and trials to implement similar changes in other areas of Shropshire, in accordance with the delivery of LCWIP schemes.

The Bicton to Shrewbury Town Centre Active Travel Corridor Programme will focus on what we can do to provide better connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists between the Bicton area (from the proposed Bicton/Bowbrook park and ride) and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital through to the Shrewsbury Town Centre. To do this, we're progressing the following work.

Mytton Oak Rd (B4386)

Upon completion of the Shropshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) we'll be undertaking feasibility work (using DfT Capability Fund monies) to look at what our options are for providing cycle facilities either along the length of Mytton Oak Rd, from its junction with Gains Park Way and its junction with Shelton Rd (B4380)/National Cycle Route Network 81 (NCN81)/Copthorne Rd (B4386) or on adjacent streets. We'll provide an update on this work in due course.  

Crowmeole Lane

In March 2021, under the first tranche of the Active Travel Fund, a trial road closure was put in place on Crowmeole Lane (with an exemption for buses) which provided a direct active travel link between the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Radbrook Village.

The point closure was implemented via an experimental traffic order (ETO) which enforced the closure on Crowmeole Lane from its junction with Rad Valley Road to its junction with Sandiway, in both directions. Consultation for this scheme closed on 18 September 2021.

We're now looking to introduce a permanent automated number plate recognition (ANPR) enforced point closure for Crowmeole Lane under the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) which came into force on 31 May 2022.

Radbrook Rd (A488)

Upon completion of the LCWIP, we'll be undertaking feasibility work to look at what our options are for providing a separated cycle facility either along the length of Radbrook Rd, from its junction with Crowmeole Lane to where it connects with Shelton Rd (B4380)/National Cycle Network 81 (NCN81) or on adjacent streets. We'll provide an update on this work in due course.

Proposed 20mph speed limit area zone for Porthill and Copthorne

Following the series of public engagement activities undertaken between 1 October – 4 November 2021 for the proposed Porthill Liveable Neighbourhood Trial (PLiNT) and the proposed Copthorne Liveable Neighbourhood Trial (CLiNT), we may seek to introduce a 20mph speed limit area zone for Porthill and Copthorne. We'll provide an update on this work in due course.

Copthorne Road (B4386) additional crossing points

Feasibility work for an additional crossing point in the vicinity of the Copthorne Keep development (also know as the site of the former army barracks) has been completed. A number of options have been identified and design work will be progressed shortly. We'll be undertaking further feasibility work for an additional crossing in the vicinity of the Copthorne Rd (B4386)/Hafren Road and the Copthorne Rd (B4386)/Pengwern Rd junction in due course.  

School travel planning

We're currently updating our Sustainable School Travel Strategy 2016. We'll provide an update on this work in due course.

New Street footway - permanent one-way system and footway widening

A trial scheme was introduced in June 2020 under the first tranche of the Active Travel Fund which closed off the westbound traffic lane along the length of New Street, and reallocated the space to cyclists.