Blast-affected traders plan protest

Shropshire traders are planning to take to the streets with placards in a protest over loss of business following the Shrewsbury blast.

Businesses in Mardol are keen to raise awareness about the effect on them of road closures following the explosion on January 3 at the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road.

They say they have not been told why part of Smithfield Road, near the Shrewsbury Hotel, has still not been reopened.

The traders say they are alarmed over the continuing "drastic drop" in footfall and a lack of information from Shropshire Council over when a return to normal can be expected.

Shropshire traders are planning to take to the streets with placards in a protest over loss of business following the Shrewsbury blast.

Businesses in Mardol are keen to raise awareness about the effect on them of road closures following the explosion on January 3 at the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road.

They say they have not been told why part of Smithfield Road, near the Shrewsbury Hotel, has still not been reopened.

The traders say they are alarmed over the continuing "drastic drop" in footfall and a lack of information from Shropshire Council over when a return to normal can be expected.

Kathy Conlon-Bailey, manager of the Relate charity shop in Mardol, said: "Virtually every business in the lower end of Mardol is suffering as a direct result of the explosion and are experiencing a drastic fall-off in business.

"Some people are understandably at their wits' end and we wonder whether the statutory services comprehend the seriousness of the disruption."

She added: "We have not seen councillors or officials in any number and we are not told anything about when the problem will be resolved."

She said the protest at 11am on Friday was aimed at underlining the plight of some of the traders and the need for council bosses to be made aware of the serious problems they are facing.

She said: "Calls to Shirehall, when you can get an answer, bring the response that it's a complicated situation.

"We realise that but we want to know what targets have been set and the timetable the public expects to be followed, not only in terms of a resumption of normal trade but for the good of the town generally."

Tim Sneddon, Shropshire Council's head of environmental maintenance for central Shropshire, said only a small section of Smithfield Road remained closed to traffic and the council had been in talks with Shrewsbury Business Chamber and Shop in the Loop to discuss how to reassure people that Shrewsbury is open for business.

"People should not be put off from visiting the town centre.

"The town is fully accessible," he said.

Mr Sneddon added: "Due to the complexity of the traffic signals on the Bridge Street/Smithfield Road junction we are not able to reopen this part of the road until the traffic signals are replaced."

By Emma Kasprzak