Shrewsbury is set to be developed as the night-time entertainment capital of Shropshire, with people encouraged into the town centre to enjoy its cafes, bars, theatre and restaurants.
Shropshire Council officers claim a vibrant evening atmosphere will help the town recover from the recession – particularly if people feel safe on the streets. And they are calling for shops to stay open later to stop Shrewsbury becoming a ghost town after everything shuts up at 5pm. It is part of a big countywide debate initiated by the council. The aim is to encourage ‘a thriving and safe evening and night-time economy’ in all the county’s market towns.
The council’s consultation document declares: “We aim to develop town centres so they remain active and vibrant throughout the day, evening and into the night.”
It says people feel safer when streets are lively and calls for a concerted effort to prevent binge drinking, crime and disorder. A crackdown on litter from takeaways and people urinating in the street, better CCTV, more night buses and improved lighting in streets and car parks are also on the cards.
The plan – out for public comment until February 22 – is attracting a favourable response in Shrewsbury.
Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association ‘fully supports’ the proposals. It says: “Free parking should be offered during the evening and night to encourage visitors. We feel it will be essential to work with, and bring together, traders, businesses, licensed trade, transport facilities, NHS and emergency services. We do have concerns over raised levels of noise, but hope this would be managed properly.”
Smail Bachene, general manager of the Source vodka bar, said: “This is an excellent idea – getting back to the 80s when the town was buzzing with people socialising over a coffee. Shrewsbury is like a ghost town after 5pm now. Everyone wants to go home, put their feet up and watch television.”
Councillor Jon Tandy said: “I support the idea of encouraging people into the town centre at night but a big priority should be tackling the litter from takeaways which is strewn everywhere each morning.
“Our street cleaning staff do a fantastic job in getting rid of it before most people have got out of bed.”
Councillor Peter Nutting said: “Shrewsbury already has a pleasant and safe atmosphere at night and we should build on that.”
What do you think? Email news editor Peter Kitchen at pkitchen@shropshirestar.co.uk
By Peter Johnson
