Wellington town traders to give views on car ban plan
A main shopping street in Wellington could be pedestrianised, it was revealed today.
Town traders are to be asked if they want Market Street pedestrianised to bring the area up to scratch. Former mayor John Alvey called for urgent work on the street during Wellington Town Council's meeting this week.
He said the paving was in a poor state for pedestrians and needed improvements.
He said: "You hear of people who have slipped and tripped on the very bad paving.
"Something has to be done before you have a very serious fall. It is shambolic and has been going on for a long, long time."
Deputy mayor Councillor Graham Riley said a working party had been formed to work with Telford & Wrekin Council to look at major problems in the town.
Market Street was one of the areas the working party is looking at.
He said a questionnaire was due to be drawn up as part of informal consultation to be sent out to traders to see if people want Market Street pedestrianised.
If there is 100 per cent support it will go out to public consultation, said Councillor Riley.
Councillor Miles Hosken condemned Market Street, saying it had been a 'thorn in the side' of the town council since 1987.
"In 2012 we still have bad kerbs, broken paving slabs and complaints to the borough council with insurance claims."
He said businesses were opening in the street but it was like bringing them to 'a Third World area'.
"It needs rectifying. Something radical is required to attain a better quality of life for people who run a business there and for the shoppers as well."
Councillor Roger Aveley told the meeting that the top of Market Street was 'impassable for pushchairs and wheelchairs'.
"A lot of people use that area and we must close it to traffic. It's dangerous and the footpaths are sloping towards the road," he said.
