Changes aim to make part of town 'more attractive'

New seats, planting and other improvements are set to be introduced to part of Shrewsbury after a consultation with residents.

The plans for Abbey Foregate also include a bike hire dock, a public bike repair station and a secure storage facility for bicycles, to encourage greener travel choices.

The changes will installed this year, according to Shropshire Council, and are mainly funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

No significant road changes were included in the scheme, the authority added.

The council said the upgrades were designed to make the entrance to Abbey Foregate more welcoming and comfortable to spend time in.

Many people who replied to the consultation described Abbey Foregate as a place they moved through, rather than spent time in.

More than two-thirds said they passed straight through the area and just under a quarter stayed for less than an hour.

"The consultation shows a real appetite for change in Abbey Foregate, and we're pleased to support improvements that make the area more attractive and give a boost to the local community," said councillor Rob Wilson.

Emma Molyneux, from the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District group, added: "These light-touch changes will help us create a more welcoming space for people not just to pass through, but to spend time in – and give local businesses a valuable footfall boost."

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