Have your say on proposed improvements to Shrewsbury railway station gyratory

Have your say on proposed improvements to Shrewsbury railway station gyratory

People are being asked for their views on proposals to enhance the gyratory area to the front of Shrewsbury railway station, including improvements to walking and cycling.

The area includes the gyratory next to Shrewsbury railway station, connecting Castle Gates (A5191), Chester Street (A528) and Smithfield Road (A458), and the scheme also proposes enhanced active travel features to the north and south.

In early 2023 Shropshire Council, with the support of the Big Town Plan Partnership, secured funding from the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) to improve the Station Gyratory area and a series of proposals have now been drawn up.

From Tuesday 6 February to Tuesday 5 March [2024] people can find out information about the proposals and have their say as part of a four-week consultation.

People can take part online at https://shrewsburystationgyratory.commonplace.is, or visit St Mary's Church in Shrewsbury from Thursday 8 February to see the proposals in person.

On Thursday 8, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February there will also be a chance to drop-in and talk to members of the project team. See below.

The proposals include:

• Wider pavements, new signalised crossings and benches. The reduction of traffic and addition a of a footpath along the southern edge of Cross Street will make this a better, safer route for pedestrians.
• Two new cycle routes to the north and south of the scheme via new active travel corridors along Castle Foregate (north of the Station) and Castle Street (south of the Station towards the town centre).
• A new 20mph speed limit throughout the Station Gyratory area to reduce vehicle speeds and further improve safety for walking and cycling movement.
• Greener streets and spaces that promote and preserve local biodiversity.
• Improving key junctions and access routes into and out of the Station Gyratory area.

Dan Morris, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for highways, said:

"The Station Gyratory public space and active travel improvements are an important part of the overall shared vision for the future of Shrewsbury town centre and I'm delighted that we have secured LUF2 funding for this work. Now we really want to hear people's views on our proposals.

"This project will see improvements around the Station Gyratory area which will greatly enhance the area, improve accessibility, and ease movement for people travelling through the area - whatever their mode of travel.

"The proposed improvements and changes to public space will also improve public safety throughout the area and celebrate the local character of our historic town centre.

"I encourage people to have a look and tell us what they think."

The project is made up of three phases:

1. Building on the work carried out on the Castle Street Vision and Development Framework in 2019, a new southern active travel corridor is proposed on Castle Street to connect to the town centre.
2. A new northern active travel corridor is proposed to connect to Flaxmill Maltings via Castle Foregate, New Park Road and the existing Canal Path walking and cycling route.
3. Improvements to the Gyratory area, which sits at the centre of the proposals, to reorganise space with changes to the road layout to allow for a north-south active travel route past the station, as well as walking and public space improvements including more greenery and street seating.

The work must be completed by spring 2025 to meet funding deadlines.

Further information

1. Members of the project team will be St Mary's Church, St Mary's Place on the following days:

• Thursday 8 February: 1pm to 7pm
• Friday 9 February: 10am to 4pm
• Saturday 10 February: 10am to 4pm

2. The consultation closes at 11:55pm on Tuesday 5 March 2024.

3. The Station Gyratory public space and active travel improvements are just one part of the overall shared vision for the future of Shrewsbury town centre.

The proposals have been designed to align with the vision for Shrewsbury set out in:

• The Shrewsbury Big Town Plan (2018)
• Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Masterplan Vision (2021)
• Shrewsbury Movement and Public Space Strategy (known as Shrewsbury Moves). Consultation launched on 26 January 2024.

The Smithfield Riverside project (also LUF2 funded) is located next to the Station Gyratory and is due for consultation in early 2024, focused on the area between The Darwin Centre, Roushill and the River Severn, at the heart of Shrewsbury town centre.

4. The above images can be downloaded from Flickr.