Revamp work gets underway

As part of the £12 million Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, the improvements will see the red bricks which currently cover the town's only pedestrian street pulled up and new York stone and granite setts laid in their place.

There will also be new seating areas, lighting and planters.

Officials are confident that the work, which is being carried out by Shropshire Council, will 'future proof' the town for the next 40 years.

The council is working alongside Shrewsbury BID, Shrewsbury Town Council, WSP Shropshire Design Consultancy and Casey Group Contractors to bring their vision to life and it is confident that the improvements, which are set to end in November, will bring a much more coherent feel to the town, linking up with the Square and further improvements which are to be undertaken in Shoplatch, Bellstone and Town Walls.

Officials admitted there will be some disruption but said they were confident shopkeepers and big stores would be supportive and come onside whilst the work is undertaken.

Workers will now begin to replace the paving and street furniture and will remove a tree on Pride Hill. The work will be done in sections and there will be three feature 'gateways' of the pavement by the Darwin Shopping Centre, Butcher Row and Pride Hill Shopping Centre.

The first section where work will be undertaken is outside Waitrose, Cotswold Outdoors, Superdrug, Bodyshop and Tescos.

A drop in shop will open in a vacant unit within the Darwin Shopping Centre enabling people to have a look at the scheme and study the slabs and setts for themselves before they are laid.