COUNCILLORS have given their seal of approval to a major Bridgnorth town centre traffic package which includes streamlining Whitburn Street and keeping it one-way.
Switching the bus stop from outside Lloyds Bank to its former home on the other side of the Northgate, outside the Bear Inn, are among the other moves given the green light by Shropshire Council’s south planning committee on Tuesday.
Councillors agreed that the Whitburn Street one-way order should be made permanent. The council began trialling the one-way system – from the junction with the relief road up to High Street – in March of last year.
Bridgnorth member Councillor John Hurst-Knight said that he was “delighted” with the plans.
Council representatives were in Whitburn Street on Wednesday marking out the road which will also see wider pavements with blue-brick paving and conservation kerbs.
“The extra width will reduce the speed of traffic,” said Councillor Hurst-Knight, who has first-hand experience of the narrowness of the pavements after being knocked over.
He said that former councillor Tony Green should be given credit for starting pressure for a relief road, which has led to the introduction of the one-way system.
Whitburn Street, High Street and Northgate will be partially closed for periods over a three-month period starting in August while the work is carried out.
The work will be carried out by award-winning construction firm McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd on behalf of Shropshire Council.
Hugh Dannatt, the council’s traffic and highways engineering manager, reported on Tuesday that publication of the proposed order had resulted in 18 letters of support and 11 objections.
He said bus operators had told the council that drivers had found it difficult to make the tight turn out of Whitburn Street on to the stand outside Lloyds Bank and the former doctors’ surgery.
“Also if two buses are waiting, the bus closest to the Northgate arch has to first reverse to negotiate the narrow width through the arch. In short, the stand has been causing extreme operating difficulties.
“It is therefore proposed to place the bus lay-by in its historical location, where it has probably operated for approximately 50 years and to marginally extend the length in order that two buses can comfortably wait,” said Mr Dannatt.
He added that loading and disabled motorists’ bays in Whitburn Street, closest to High Street, had been causing obstruction and congestion problems.
Councillors agreed that the disabled motorists’ bay should be repositioned around the corner on High Street, with three more bays for the same purpose provided as well. The loading bay will be relocated onto the northern side of High Street.
Councillors have also listened to objections from residents by allowing parking restrictions to be relaxed at Northgate between the Cliff Road and Moat Street junctions, so that an additional space is provided.