Controversial Wellington one-way system to be discussed by councillors

Church Street is currently exit-only at its junction onto Vineyard Road.

Town councillor Lee Carter told members that was originally done to help retailers on Market Street, 200 metres from the barrier, trade safely under social distancing regulations with customers queueing outside.

Councillor Carter – who is also a member of Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet – added that the borough had money allocated to resurface Market Street’s paths and carriageway and that the plan had been delayed, at the town council’s request, for further investigation.

During a discussion about reopening the town’s retail sector, Councillor Lisa Jinks said: “I wonder if we could perhaps have a quick update from Councillor Carter to see whether we can reopen the top of Church Street?”

Frustration

Councillor Phil Morris-Jones expressed frustration that research into the plans was taking so long.

Councillor Carter said: “I believe there is a meeting due to take place in the next couple of weeks between the borough council and town council to take this further.

“Just to remind members, for two years now Telford & Wrekin (Council) have also had capital monies budgeted and allocated for the resurfacing of footpaths and the carriageway in Market Street.

“It’s the town council who have delayed that to have a good look at the scheme. Once they decide which is the best way to progress, of course the Church Street one-way system will be reviewed.

“In the next two weeks, I’d hope, we’d have that meeting and we can make some decisions from there.

“I would also remind members why that closure was put in place in the first instance: to reduce traffic flow down Market Street during Covid.

“At a time when Covid was at its height, in order to allow those businesses to operate safely, we needed to do something to restrict the flow of traffic.”