Ellesmere councillors call for speed limit reduction

Members of Ellesmere Town Council have announced plans to ask Shropshire Council for the current speed limit on the A495, opposite the Mere, to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

Covering more than 119 acres and some 62ft deep, the Mere provides a home to an abundance of wildlife and is a tourist hot spot.

Speaking at an Ellesmere Town Council meeting held on Monday, councillor Ann Hartley said: “People are not respecting the current speed limit.

"We have plans for a secret garden, enhancing that area and opening it up, so we really need to push for it to be reduced to 30mph.

"Access to Cremorne Gardens on the shore of the Mere between Ellesmere house and Castlefields has been opened up recently.

"A team of volunteers have cleared the area and a hedge has been laid.

“Access will lead straight onto the road; the current speed of traffic along that road is too high.

"The reduction in the speed limit would allow pedestrians with buggies and toddlers to cross safely.

“Ellesmere is a bustling successful town and I am very proud of it.

"Visitor numbers have been through the roof, we have got to make it safer for pedestrians.”

Councillors also discussed plans to put an additional pedestrian crossing along the same road.

Mayor of Ellesmere and town councillor Ian Ward said: “The speed limit reduction fits in with our existing policy, but there is currently a capital funding issue for both speed limit reduction and the crossing.

"It will need to be added to the Shropshire Council programme.”

Recently a warden’s bungalow, which is located in Cremorne Gardens close to the Mere, was re-opened by Shropshire Council after standing empty for a number of years.

It is now available to hire and is also home to the council’s country parks and heritage sites team, which co-ordinates the management of countryside sites across the north of the county, including the Mere.