Councillor 'so pleased' as bridge work paused

A councillor has said she is "so pleased" after plans to revamp a bridge in Shropshire were paused.

Shropshire Council wanted to close Greyfriars Bridge in Shrewsbury for two months over the summer, with a diversion in place during the closure.

However the authority has delayed the work after feedback from local businesses and people in the area who raised concerns about its impact.

Local Labour councillor Kate Halliday said the authority's move was the "right course of action to take" and described the bridge as a "lifeline" for residents.

"A delay would give us the opportunity to see if there are alternatives to a two-month closure and whether alternative travel options can be offered," she said on Facebook.

Ms Halliday added she had been "inundated" with messages of concern from businesses and had met with them to create a "better plan for the future".

A council spokesperson said the repairs were required to safeguard the public and work could only be carried out during the summer months.

They said they were "minded to delay the repairs until next summer" to allow for more consultation to take place.

One firm in the town, House Coffee & Co cafe, thanked those involved in the decision for getting "stuck in" and helping pause the plans which it described as "great news".

A cafe spokesperson added the closure would have had a "big impact" on small businesses like itself, making it harder for people to reach firms on both sides of the river.

A Shrewsbury Business Improvement District spokesperson said the group was grateful the council had heard the concerns and they looked forward to helping upgrade the pedestrian and cycle route into the town centre.

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