Shrewsbury Riverside Shopping Centre: Readers want to park extra car places plan

Having their say on the future of the site, Shropshire Star readers have questioned an idea to put extra car parking on the land, but say that Shropshire Council has a chance to use the development to create a more appealing entrance to the town for visitors.

Others have suggested that the council should revisit the abandoned "New Riverside" project, which would have linked all three centres around an anchor tenant department store.

Shropshire Council takes possession of the Riverside, Darwin, and Pride Hill shopping centres on January 23, having concluded a multi-million pound deal to buy them.

Council leader Peter Nutting has suggested the site could be demolished and make way for a mixed-use development.

Writing on the Shropshire Star's Facebook page Maggie Brown said: "Absolutely no more shops moving out to retail parks - we need to revitalise the town centre.

"But any new car park needs to stay open late enough to accommodate people using the bars and restaurants. A car park that closes at 7pm is a joke."

Catherine Reese added: "Definitely not a car park please, unless the council start to implement a much fairer charging system which encourages local shopping, not just a way to increase revenue. A review of the traffic system/flow would also be needed as we need more traffic through town like a hole in the head!"

Shaun Wilson called for the authority to revisit the plans to create a giant shopping centre, combined with the the Darwin and Pride Hill centres.

He said: "The original plans that were passed in 2011 still look the best scenario. It doesn't have to be filled with 50 new shops! Maybe more a leisure plex. Cinema, bowling amusements & big chain restaurants. But still linking it all together with a glass roof as was planned. Shrewsbury's current Bowling and Cinema are pretty tired looking now so to incorporate leisure facilities I feel is best to reboot the town's night life for all ages."

Claire Williams described the current centre as a "mess" while Beverley Link called for the council to create an enjoyable walk into town from the Frankwell footbridge.

She said: "Make it an attractive walk into town from Frankwell footbridge. I am sure some visitors and tourist must think they have gone the wrong way or wrong town when it just doesn't match up to the pictures of Shrewsbury?"

Claire Williams said: "It's a mess compared to how it was in the early 1990s etc. So many shops closed and so many second hand furniture places all in there.

"It used to be good with Partners, TJ Hughes Ethel Austins, Bewise etc. An indoor play place would be nice. There was Go Bananas in there where Wilcos is now. Bring some good shops back into town. Shopping in town is poor these days. Can't believe we don't have a McDonald's anymore."

Deborah Price said the money the council is spending on the site could be better used to support local business.

She said: "What a waste of money yet again, if the rentals on these shops weren’t so expensive the shops that used to be there would not have disappeared, put the money into bringing more businesses back into the town, parking is another issue but this should have been thought of before they built the Darwin’s and Pride Hill shopping mall, not think about it years later!"

Eky Singh Virdee voiced concerns about the future of tenants at the Riverside.

He said: "There are a number of new tenants with very good independent businesses and there are prospective tenants about to tenant the empty units. What will the council do about these independent businesses?"

Keith McClean said Shrewsbury should focus on its historical appeal rather than modern shopping centres.

He said: "The problem with Shrewsbury is it's scattered all over the place, you have the High Street as such but they've tried to incorporate modern shopping mall lite entities into the traditional high street ethos which really doesn't work and I really think the council and planning people don't really know what to do!

"They have a real problems as, tourists want to see an old traditional town in all its glory and the town does bring amazing cash from tourists and I would like the town to remain as a historical town and if anyone wants to see or go to a shopping mall then go to Birmingham or Telford."