Plans to restrict traffic and parking as part of social distancing measures in Bishop’s Castle are being trialled

Bishop’s Castle Town Council has issued a statement to reassure residents that the changes will not become permanent unless it is “deemed desirable.”

However concerns have been raised by residents that businesses will be impacted by the new layout.

Recommendations include trialling a 20mph one-way system with flow downhill on the High Street from the Town Hall to Station Street junction and placing cones on the existing disabled space near the Town Hall to make a pedestrianised area.

The trial is part of a strategy to reopen with social distancing.

Representatives from Shropshire Council met with Bishop’s Castle town councillors to look at suggestions for measures that could be introduced in the town as businesses begin to re-open.

A Bishop’s Castle Town Council spokesperson said: “Under current legislation such changes can be implemented and withdrawn or tweaked without the customary six month consultation as has already happened in Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Newport.

“These are temporary measures which would last for no longer than six months but shorter if felt to be unworkable or unnecessary. Only after this period if deemed desirable would the measures become permanent.

“Regretfully these proposals were shared on social media before councillors had had a chance to review them and continued unabated despite reassurances from local and county councillors.”

Councillors say they were divided over whether to install yellow lines or white lines and wished to “maintain the aesthetics” of the town. They have asked residents to obey the markings so that “draconian measures can be avoided.”

A virtual meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 2 with details available on the council website while comments can be sent to townclerk@bishopscastletowncouncil.gov.uk.