Final plans for revitalising the River Severn in Shrewsbury were announced this week as part of a £150,000 package to increase the use of the waterway.
Permanent pontoons will be installed in the Quarry and adjacent to the new Theatre Severn, as well as a programme of river clearance to allow larger vehicles to navigate the route, by March at the latest.
Members of the Shrewsbury River Partnership have been investigating ways to improve the use and access to the river for the past three years with a host of ideas including floating restaurants and a water taxi service put forward. But this week group members endorsed the preferred options.
As well as permanent pontoons, discussions are also underway with landowners to negotiate a temporary floating pontoon at the West Mid Showground which would allow people to be ferried backwards and forwards during major events.
Partnership members hope that the measures will attract more people to the river as well as reducing traffic in the town by enabling a water taxi service to be created.
David Griffiths, Destination Shrewsbury manager, has been leading the river partnership and said members agreed this week on the schemes to take forward.
He said the river would be cleared in a couple of places to increase its depth and enable boat traffic to go up and down longer stretches of the river.
“We’re looking at trying to introduce a pontoon by the new theatre so people could come to the theatre by boat and moor it there. It will be available for all types of boats,” he said.
“The other area we’re looking at is having a jetty in the Quarry.
“We’re also looking at discussions with the West Mid Show about having drop-off points there so potentially people could travel to events there by boat.”
He said it would be a floating pontoon which could be brought down for events and moored to two permanent posts.
Judith Williams, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough portfolio holder for the river, said: “We’re hoping to encourage lots more craft onto the river, we’re looking forward to seeing steam craft, solar powered craft and more.
“We hope to introduce river taxis to enhance the use and pleasure of people using the river and we hope someone will now come forward with rowing boat hire, there’s a great demand for that as well,” she added.
“We look forward to getting on with the job, all of the work should be done by March and we look forward to lots more river use.”
l What do you think of the plan? Write in with your views to: The Editor, Shrewsbury Chronicle, Chronicle House, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DN, or email jbutterworth @shrewsburychronicle.co. uk or ring reporter Anna Wood on 01743 283325
