New town centre road proposed in regeneration plan

Shrewsbury's Riverside shopping centre has been demolished and the site is due to be turned into a park

A new town centre road is set to be built, as part of a regeneration project that has involved knocking down a former shopping centre.

Demolition work began on Shrewsbury's Riverside shopping centre last August and work to clear the site started last week.

The regeneration project aims to turn the area into a park and a new road has been proposed to reduce traffic along Roushill, the road that runs past the site.

The proposed road, which would run alongside the Premier Inn hotel and multi-storey car park, would provide an alternative link between Smithfield Road and Raven Meadows.

Councillors will be asked to approve the highway works at a planning meeting on 18 February.

"A new road, 'The Avenue', is proposed to accommodate traffic that currently uses Roushill to access Raven Meadows," said case officer Ollie Thomas.

As well as a new two-way road, the scheme includes junction arrangements with Smithfield Road and Raven Meadows, plus a re-located bus lay-by on Smithfield Road.

An existing northbound cycle lane on Roushill would be amended to guide cyclists through the reconfigured area.

Mr Thomas said the proposals would benefit pedestrians and support the new park.

He added that the plan complied with local and national planning policies and he recommended that planning permission be granted.

While no objections have been lodged from technical consultees, Shrewsbury Town Council has expressed concern about a perceived lack of facilities for cyclists.

Shrewsbury Civic Society has raised questions about a lack of detailed landscaping plans, but did highlight positive aspects such as reduced traffic risks for pedestrians.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.