Pedestrian-friendly Shrewsbury Weekend Trial Engagement Center launched

People are invited to give their opinion on the new weekend traffic arrangements in Shrewsbury.
The center of Shrewsbury – Wyle Cop (uphill), High Street and Shoplatch – is currently closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to help reduce traffic in the city on weekends.
A formal consultation has been launched which will help councilors decide whether to make the arrangements permanent in the future.
People can go to www.shrewsburymoves.com for more information about the trial and to answer a series of questions about what they think about the program.
Steve Brown, Head of Transport and Environment at Shropshire Council, said: “Following comments earlier this year and discussions with partners, we have introduced a revised weekend schedule and now want to hear from people’s views.
“It is really important that businesses, residents and visitors have a say so that an informed choice can be made about longer term arrangements. ”
Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury BID, which represents more than 500 inner-city businesses, said it was important for businesses to make their views known.
“The consultation website is very easy to use and doesn’t take a lot of time – you can answer as many or as few questions as you want,” he said.
“We did a survey of our members earlier this year and the vast majority wanted some sort of traffic restriction to give the city center a more pleasant atmosphere, so we are delighted that this new version of the trial has started. .
“We also hope to have freelance surveyors in the city center in the coming weeks to ask people directly what they think.”
Along with the weekend trial, the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, made up of the Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury BID, is developing a new movement strategy for the city, following feedback received on the Shrewsbury Masterplan Vision earlier this year.
Helen Ball, Clerk of Shrewsbury City Council, said: “Extensive consultation with residents, businesses and organizations has been conducted as part of the Big Town plan, and it is clear that people want to see less traffic in the center of Shrewsbury.
“We really look forward to hearing the views of as many residents, businesses and visitors as possible on this current weekend arrangement.
“As the future movement strategy is developed, it is likely that a number of programs and initiatives will be tested, so it is essential that people give us their feedback as we go. let’s move forward with the process. “