BRIDGNORTH residents have been joined by the town’s civic society in a call to smarten up the “shabby” town. Their concerns were echoed by the mayor and town councillors have agreed to investigate.
Members of two of the council’s committees will be thrashing out ideas at future meetings.
The action was sparked by a letter to the council from former society chairman Michael Rainsford, who wants the council to take more of a leading role in town affairs. He listed issues in which he expected the town council to be at the forefront.
These include parking policies to safeguard High Street trade and a perceived failure to discuss issues arising from the construction of the relief road.
Mr Rainsford explained that he had been pressing for three years for the town council to take over the “maintenance” and “enforcement” responsibilities previously held by the former county and district authorities.
“With my stepping down as chairman, I personally have to accept that my campaign to encourage the town council to become more proactive, for the time being, has failed, but I would earnestly beg the council not to miss this unique opportunity to become a more forceful body for the town,” he said.
Mr Rainsford was unavailable for comment this week, but his successor and current chairman Dr Christopher Jephcott agreed that the town centre “looked more than a little tired” and needed sprucing up.
“It is a question of finance and the right mechanism,” he said. “One of our major concerns are the state of the flights of steps between High Town and Low Town which are one of Bridgnorth’s assets and their maintenance .
“The Castle Grounds are immaculate and are an example of how things should be in the town.”
He voiced fears that the proposed installation of parking meters would be an eyesore. And he said the society were interested in following up a Shrewsbury scheme to rid roads of yellow lines and replace them with ‘dispensation zones.’
Mayor, Councillor Val Gill told the town council on Tuesday that people had approached her saying that parts of the town were not cared for.
“I would not like us to take on additional services with no resources and not being able to carry them out in the future,” said Councillor Iain Seivewright.
Members agreed with his suggestion that the situation should be investigated by the council’s administration and civic committee.
Ideas will also come under the microscope at future meetings of the property and grounds committee.