Oswestry's Ironwork Centre in pledge on traffic
The British Ironwork Centre tourist attraction near Oswestry has outlined its traffic management plans for major events it holds during the year as it bids to win retrospective approval for its activities and some building.
The centre says it has dedicated marshals to ensure the free flow of vehicles to and from the busy A5 trunk road.
The business has applied for retrospective planning permission for its activities and some of its buildings on the site at Aston.
In a report to Shropshire Council the centre says it operates a one-way system for traffic and car parking on its land and has a designated traffic controller among its staff.
It has also set out its traffic management procedures for its major events to ensure traffic can move in and out onto the A5.
A report to Shropshire Council said the centre operates a ticket-based system for all events which have the potential to be well attended.
"Depending on the nature and subject of the event, it does limit ticket availability to ensure the safe operation of all traffic on site. The Centre hosts only a small number of these events each year," says the report.
"Most events would be considered relatively small and would be serviced by the centres standard parking management strategy."
Weekends
The report says the strategy ensures that visitors enter and leave the site by approved routes and in accordance with safe practices and also that there is enough parking available to all visitors.
"It ensures there are suitable marshals in place to offer direction and execute the event traffic management plan."
The report points out that the major events such as a transport rally and charity run are not held at peak times and mostly at weekends.
"There are dedicated traffic marshals and one traffic controller for each event. Within the team there are first aid personnel, a fire marshal and a dedicated recovery driver and vehicle."
"The traffic marshals implement all event traffic signage and provide direction to all visitors. They manage the centre's parking area ensuring the unhindered free flow of vehicles to and from the A5."
"There is dedicated recovery equipment which can be used to move a broken down vehicle if required."
Shropshire Cocil is expecting to debate the planning application this spring.
A previous application, which included future aspirations for the site, off the A5, was withdrawn after two years of talks.
The current application is for the extension and alterations to existing lawful buildings to include improvements to an existing access and change of use of land to formalise the sculpture park on part of the land.
