I am pleased to hear that there will be an experimental pedestrianisation of parts of Shrewsbury town centre when social distancing measures come to an end on 19 July 2021.
Under the plans, until 31 October 2021 Wyle Cop (uphill) and High Street will be closed to all traffic between 11am and 4pm on weekends, and closed to all traffic other than buses, taxis and cyclists between 11am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Milk Street and The Square (southeast side) will also be closed to traffic from 11am to 4pm every day.
Changes to waiting and loading restrictions are also planned, reducing the number of vehicles in the town centre and providing additional space for pedestrians and cyclists during the main trading hours.
A public consultation is set to be carried out this autumn to ask residents, business and visitors if the measures should remain on a permanent basis. Shropshire Council’s Cabinet will be asked to consider the measures, and approve the consultation at a meeting on 21 July 2021.
The consultation would consider all impacts of the measures and will help Shropshire Council and its partners – including the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Board – to decide whether to implement longer-term arrangements in the town centre. A report containing the consultation findings would be considered by Cabinet.