Worries raised over safety on Whitchurch road

Councillors have made fresh calls to prevent traffic using a shortcut in Whitchurch town centre amid fears it is only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed.

Councillor Rob Hewson, deputy mayor of Whitchurch, wants to limit access to Pepper Street by installing a bollard to stop motorists cutting across the town centre. It would prevent traffic cutting into High Street.

Shropshire Council, the highways authority, today said it is still considering the installation of a bollard, adding that scheme has been held up by spending cuts.

Currently, traffic is only supposed to use the road from Castle Hill towards High Street for access and making deliveries.

But now Councillor Hewson, a member of the town council, has renewed calls for urgent action after claiming an elderly woman was 'clipped' by a vehicle emerging from Pepper Street earlier this week.

He added some vehicles had even been spotted going the wrong way down the road.

"I've been fighting this for nearly 18 months and what I'm cross about now is that a lady got clipped by a car on Monday," he said.

"Luckily she was not hurt but I fear next time somebody could be hurt or worse.

"If a bollard went in at the junction of Pepper Street and High Street, they wouldn't be able to get past.

"The thing is pedestrians don't expect traffic to be using it as it's been effectively a one-way street for many years. I just want something done before somebody gets hurt."

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council cabinet member for transport, said: "Shropshire Council is currently considering a scheme.

Although safety concerns have been raised regarding this junction, our accident records show that it has actually got a good safety record and there have been no recorded injury accidents within the last five years.

"In view of this, and the fact that our reduced budget has an effect on the prioritisation of schemes, we have been unable to progress this to date.

"However, this is a scheme we would like to progress as part of our future works programme and plans will be sent out for consultation in due course," he added.