Bridgnorth riverside work to boost town tourism and safety
Workers have been busy on the banks of the River Severn pollarding trees as the second phase of a £100,000 project to improve Bridgnorth's riverside gets under way.
The riverside enhancement project will also see vegetation cleared, new kerbing and fencing put up, a new lifebuoy station added and extra warning signs put in place warning about the dangers of the River Severn.
Glen McGrandle, Shropshire Council's street scene manager, said river levels had threatened to postpone the work but the water had dropped before Monday.
He said: "The first job is to re-pollard all the lime trees along the section of the riverbank. We cannot have people working underneath them while that work is being carried out, due to the danger of falling branches, so the clearing of vegetation and other clearance work will begin once the tree work has been completed.
"The river levels were threatening to delay the work over the weekend but since then the water has dropped enough to allow the pollarding to take place.
"The levels have crept up a bit again and have made the riverbanks slippery, especially when it freezes, so the workers will not be carrying out any vegetation clearance until it's safe to do so."
The plans have been developed by a number of organisations after concerns were raised, through the Bridgnorth Town Plan, about the condition of the riverside and how it should boost the town's economy. Phase one of the project took place in spring 2013, when trees along the riverside were pollarded, with the tops and branches being trimmed to encourage new growth.
Work is to start soon in Doctors Lane, which will be closed from 9am to 4pm, to the north of the bridge on Monday and until January 24. Further work to the south of the bridge will be carried out from January 27 to 31, with the road again being closed from 9am to 4pm.
There will be notices and road signs about parking restrictions. For further details about the work call (01746) 713165.
