Oswestry BID Update on Church Street Enhancements

Planned enhancements to Church Street have faced a series of challenges, say the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), but they will go ahead. The plan is set to include extensions to pavements, street furniture with garden planters, seating, and a one-way system to improve safety for pedestrians while making for a more attractive place to shop and dwell in town.

A spokesperson for BID said, “This project has been extremely challenging, but we are committed to bringing it to fruition. We all want to see the end of the Hog barriers put down during Covid to provide social distancing and create a temporary one-way system on this section of Church Street.

“But following the lifting of Covid restrictions, safety concerns were raised by Highways about the speed of vehicles travelling through and overtaking, especially worrying during the nighttime when people are walking home. This is why the Hogs were left in place - to ensure public safety until more permanent improvements were made.

“Now given the clear safety benefits provided by the temporary road layout, it was decided to consider making the one-way traffic regulation order permanent - a period of consultation then followed. BID were also exploring how Church Street could be improved with more pedestrian space, to calm the traffic and ensure safety, whilst enhancing the street scene. These ideas were run past both Oswestry Town Council and Shropshire Council at the Future Oswestry Group meetings.

“BID also initiated a series of useful onsite meetings with Shropshire Council Highways, Environmental Associates (Designers), WSP, and Kier. Various proposals were made, though meeting the demands of Highways regulations, funding and resource proved challenging. However, BID continued to research similar projects around the UK bringing to light several innovative, workable case studies with street scenes significantly improved without hitting the boundaries of highways legislation.”

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for growth, regeneration and housing commented, “The current set up on Church Street is to protect members of the public and align with health and safety requirement for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. We understand the public want to see change and are investigating several alternatives for the interim period before permanent works are established.”

Oswestry Town Council is extremely pleased that a solution has been found. A spokesperson for the council said, “The temporary solution, whilst necessary, was in place for far too long and generated significant public dissatisfaction. We would like to thank Oswestry BID for their persistence and look forward to seeing the improvements which will make Church Street a more pleasant place to spend time in.”

Oswestry BID Manager, Adele Nightingale, accepts that delays to the scheme have been very frustrating, but is determined that the outcome will be welcomed, and a vast improvement on before.

“We’re going as quickly as we can,” she said. “The new street layout must meet a series of important checks, as with any highways scheme, all of which takes time, including stringent highways regulations, conservation requirements, consideration of drainage solutions, re-designing the drains to fit with the new scheme, and a topographical survey in co-operation with a number of partners in the public and private sector. The current positions of the loading bay and Blue Badge bay will remain as part of the new layout.

“BID secured £70,000 from the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) funding for the planters and street furniture, which have been purchased and are in storage ready for installation. We’re at the stage where technical drawings are being drafted, so the work can be planned and begun. We’re working with Shropshire Council to ensure that work takes place alongside resurfacing and relining to minimise disruption.

“Once designs and dates for works have been confirmed, BID will update through the press and on social media platforms. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience. We’re on the final lap now, so here’s to a rejuvenated Church Street in the upcoming months,” she added.

Oswestry BID Ltd, Suite 3, Salop House, Oswestry SY11 2NR

Telephone: 01691 700365

Email: adele.nightingale@oswestry4bid.co.uk

Web: oneoswestry.co.uk