How a town is feeling the effects of council cuts

Opposition councillor Rachel Connolly has raised concerns over delayed works in Bridgnorth

As Shropshire Council looks to make £62.5m in savings this financial year, one town is particularly feeling the effects of the cuts.

In October, Lezley Picton, leader of the unitary authority, told the BBC the council was "unbelievably close" to bankruptcy, as it makes cuts of nearly £200 per person this year.

Behind its quaint, historic exterior, the cracks are beginning to show in Bridgnorth.

From delays to road resurfacing to the image of the town; residents, businesses and councillors said the cutbacks were evident.

Labour councillor Rachel Connolly raised concerns over work to improve the aesthetics of Bridgnorth.

She said issues like street cleaning, vegetation cutback and seasonal maintenance were delayed and "quite reactive".

Many are concerned about the effect on works throughout the town

"We rely on people to report things... you now have to provide a photograph, put it on a map... it's quite difficult for people to report things," Connolly said.

In the past, local resident Huw Rees said he had taken matters into his own hands, and cut down some of the bushes blocking the view to the River Severn from Castle Walk in High Town.

"[King] Charles I described that view as the finest in all of his kingdom, but you can't see it any more because the vegetation's just too tall," he said.

Huw Rees said he had cut bushes down himself in the past, due to delays

Of the Conservative-run council's 47 road resurfacing schemes this year across the county, 11 have been postponed, including Richmond Gardens in Bridgnorth.

"Clearly the real terms funding gaps that we've had are having an impact," said councillor Dan Morris, portfolio holder for highways.

"Those roads have been surveyed... they are safe.

"Those roads can be pushed into next year’s programme, but it is to do with funding, unfortunately."

Morris added that the authority had been looking at handing responsibility for some services to groups like parish councils.

In the nearby parish of Neen Solars, Shropshire Council has been trialling the delegation of some of its highways repairs to the council there, which Morris said had been "successful".

Dan Morris said delays in highways work was down to the financial cuts

Cuts are also being made to some council-owned buildings - one on Innage Lane in the town, used by local community groups, is shutting for the winter so the local authority does not have to pay the bills.

Bridgnorth is also home to one of the county's five recycling centres.

In the first week of November, the council introduced a booking system to stop people from outside the county using the sites.

After March 2025, a decision will be made on whether all of Shropshire’s recycling centres will close for one day a week to make savings.