Revealed: Shrewsbury Pride Hill works to miss deadline
Work to renovate the whole of Shrewsbury’s main shopping street will not be finished by its November deadline and is now to be suspended for Christmas.
A programme of work to lay York stone and granite setts, install new street furniture and improve lighting on Pride Hill was due to end on November 9.
However, a finish date for part of the work has now been moved to November 15. Hoardings will then be removed and the site cleared until after Christmas. Work will then restart from Butcher Row to the bottom of Pride Hill once the festive period is over in the New Year.
Last week a crunch meeting was held between Shropshire Council officers, the contractors Casey and Shrewsbury’s MP Daniel Kawczynski, where Chris Casey, managing director of the construction firm, gave an update and explained some of the reasons for the delays.
Steve Davenport, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The work on Pride Hill is progressing well but it is behind schedule and will now pause in mid-November once the Christmas works embargo comes into effect.
“At Friday’s on-site meeting between Daniel and Casey, Daniel welcomed the improvements made so far and was complimentary over the materials and finishes. He also said that he appreciated the reasons for the delays to date, and the need to lift works over the Christmas embargo before re-commencing next year.
“We apologise to people for any inconvenience caused by these delays and thank them for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.”
The project has attracted widespread criticism from many quarters. Shoppers and businesses have complained that the work has caused a dip in trade and that it is unnecessary.
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It forms part of the £12 million Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package which has seen other projects carried out, including at the English Bridge gyratory, Meole Brace roundabout and Reabrook.
Mr Kawczynski said: “I met with the council and Casey last week. I explained to them that I have been contacted by many constituents, both by telephone and stopping me on Pride Hill saying what an inconvenience it has been. I explained to Shropshire Council and to Casey that my constituents are dissatisfied and that this work needs to be finished on time.”
Another part of the SITP programme gets underway in Shrewsbury later this month. Murivance and Town Walls will be closed for resurfacing from October 29 for approximately one week.
