by Melvyn Morgan
ONE-WAY traffic comes to one of Bridgnorth¹s busiest streets on Monday with a call for residents and visitors to have their say on the experiment.
The new experimental system in Whitburn Street which will take drivers up to High Street comes hot on the heels of the opening of the £1 million relief road after a wait of almost 30 years.
It is designed to further relieve congestion and improve road safety and will be made a permanent feature if successful. Whitburn Street will be closed from 6.30am tomorrow until 6pm on Sunday while Shropshire County Council carries out lining and temporary kerbing work.
Drivers emerging from the Northgate arch will be unable to turn right into Whitburn Street, but can exit High Street down Listley Street and St Mary¹s Street or through Postern Gate.
³The experimental order could last up to a maximum of 18 months,² explained Jennifer Fullard, the county council¹s communication officer for transport and highways, who added that the department wished to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the weekend closure of the road.
Councillor Christian Lea, who represents Bridgnorth East ward on the county council, said that he would like to see the one-way system made permanent with a view to widening the Whitburn Street pavements. “It will be a shot in the arm for local businesses and make it a more attractive shopping environment.”
“I would urge local residents and businesses to let the council know their feelings on the temporary one-way system. I am delighted that the relief road is open at long last, which will greatly reduce traffic going up Whitburn Street and help reduce the level of pollution,” he said.
The relief road developed by Sainsbury’s with contractors Birse and in a partnership with the district council was officially opened on Monday when council leader Councillor Elizabeth Yeomans cut a tape with the aid of chairman Councillor Ed Shirley.
“This is a tremendous boost for our district, which hopefully will be reflected in increased trade. It is very satisfying that we can bow out as an authority having achieved our goal,” said Councillor Yeomans.
John Poole, representing landowners Horne & Meredith who worked with Sainsbury¹s progressing the scheme said he was pleased the relief road and car park were now operating.
“It is good to see this come to fruition and it will be a great improvement for the town centre.nVery few market towns have such a facility so near their centre and Sainsbury’s have been very generous in making this happen and it would not have materialised without their huge effort and that of Horne & Meredith,” he said.
“If Tesco, who were originally favoured by the district council with planning consent, had been allowed to go ahead, the large town centre car parks would not have existed.
“In our mostly unsatisfactory dealings with the district council and its officers over several years, Councillor Ed Shirley was the most helpful in progressing the works,² said Mr Poole.
