Angry residents have launched an attack on plans to build a car park in Shrewsbury, claiming the scheme is ‘potentially lethal’ and will lead to traffic chaos.
Morris Property has submitted a planning application to transform land off Horsefair in Abbey Foregate into a new pay and display car park with space for up to 87 cars.
A design statement said the long stay car park would be open seven days a week from 8am until 8pm and available to the town centre shoppers as well as workers at the Abbey Lawn office development.
But residents living nearby the site claim the proposed access to the car park through a narrow lane in Horsefair is dangerous and will cause traffic chaos in an area that already suffers from bad congestion.
Christine Yates-Roberts, the owner of Old Park House Bed and Breakfast on Horsefair, said: “The access in and out of Horsefair by the betting office is potentially lethal. This is a narrow lane which opens out onto the pavement where pedestrians, children, mothers with prams and the disabled leisurely walk.
“Access is proposed over an unadopted road which is already in a poor state of repair. Additional usage of potentially up to 2,000 additional vehicle movements per day will result in potholes and potential injuries.
“There is already constricted access due to the number of parked cars against Abbey Lawns. Local residents are prevented from using their own garages and gaining access to their property because of the restricted space and traffic chaos is already a problem. Two-way traffic here would be an impossible scenario.”
Meanwhile Shrewsbury Town councillor Miles Kenny questioned whether the council should be encouraging car parks in a conservation area.
Mrs Yates-Roberts added there was no need for another car park as the area was already served by the large council-run Abbey Foregate car park as well as both St Julian’s Friars and NCP car parking at the bottom of the Wyle Cop.
There was no-one available for comment from Morris Property at the time the Chronicle went to press.
by Catherine Ferris