Apology over shopping centre demolition noise

Contractors have been demolishing the former Riverside Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury

People living in the centre of Shrewsbury have been given assurances about late night noise coming from a shopping centre demolition.

Shropshire Council was responding to a number of complaints from residents about work on the Riverside Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury last week.

The noise could be heard for miles beyond the town centre, with some people reporting it had kept them awake until after 01:00 BST.

The council said it had discussed concerns with contractors and they agreed not to carry out more work in the evenings or night until they could find a way to reduce the noise.

Teams have been removing two bridges as part of the planned regeneration of the area, but the local authority said the work had to be carried out at night.

It said the steel supports for the bridges could not be removed during the day when Raven Meadows and its car parks were open.

The council said it told the contractor noise had to be brought within recommended levels.

It said all other work would take place during daylight hours and it apologised to residents for the inconvenience.

All demolition work is due to be completed by January 2025 and a park will be built in place of the former shopping centre.

The council said it would form a central part of a masterplan for Shrewsbury town centre.

The Riverside was one of three Shrewsbury shopping centres bought by the council in 2018, in a £51m deal.