Dana footpath plans get approval from Historic England - as long as work is high quality

Shropshire Council has submitted a planning application for a footpath that would bypass the Dana Steps.

Today, the plans got the approval of Historic England, as long as high quality materials and appropriate aftercare and maintenance was carried out to the “sensitive” area.

If the plans are given the green light the plan would resolve long-running access issues for elderly, people with disabilities, and parents with pushchairs, wishing to go from Castle Gates onto the Dana footpath.

Currently the path is only accessible via a steep flight of steps.

In a letter to Shropshire Council’s planning team, Bill Klemperer, principal inspector for ancient monuments at Historic England, said: “The proposal is within a sensitive streetscape location and would have some impact upon the significance of nearby heritage assets. These include Castle House Gates and Shrewsbury Library. There will also be a direct impact upon Shrewsbury Castle, a scheduled ancient monument.

“The main impact will be caused by the creation of a new doorway through the boundary wall of Castle Gardens.

“There will also be a visual impact within the castle forecourt generally that will impact upon the castle and a limited direct impact upon archaeological deposits in a presently raised area between the Dana footway and the boundary wall of Castle Gardens.

“Poor quality design and materials could damage the significance of these heritage assets.

“The impact of the proposals overall, however, can in our view be minimised by archaeological mitigation, the use of appropriate high quality materials and by appropriate aftercare and maintenance of this high quality and sensitive area.

“It is especially important that the gate through the boundary wall is of the highest quality and that the castle forecourt is kept open in character so as not to damage the immediate setting of the castle gate facing the town.

“We therefore welcome the proposed removal of the flagpoles and recommend that planting, lighting and all other works are low level and are of as low a level impact as possible.

“In order to ensure this we recommend that all details should be agreed by the council’s Historic Environment Manager before any works take place.

“Historic England has no objection to the applications on heritage grounds. We consider that the issues and safeguards outlined in our advice need to be addressed.”

The plan has been at the centre of a disagreement between the Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Horticultural Society, which withdrew its own proposal for a footpath earlier this year.

The latest proposal has been drawn up in partnership with the town council which has set aside £50,000 for the scheme.

A design and access statement submitted with the plans states the path will go through the brick wall on the Dana footpath and then along the wall and onto the forecourt to the castle.

The application form also states that the proposals have been developed in full consultation with the trustees of the Shropshire Regimental Museum as occupiers of the property.

An assessment from Shropshire Council's heritage team says that because of the historical nature of the surroundings a programme of archaeological work, in the form of an archaeological watching brief, should accompany all groundworks.