The architect of a £2m transport hub for Ludlow has welcomed the news the scheme will be supported by South Shropshire District Council, ahead of the transition to a unitary authority next year.
District councillor Ed Havard, who first proposed the scheme in 2005 before his election as a councillor in 2007, told the Journal: “It’s something Ludlow badly needs, especially in the economic downturn. We need something to draw people into town.
“I look forward to it being implemented, it can only be a good thing for Ludlow.”
Councillor Havard added: “I’m just sad that we can’t get the money together ourselves. It’s something Ludlow has needed for many years. We are just driving tourist buses out of town.”
South Shropshire District Council carried out a £30,000 study last year into the costs of creating an integrated transport hub for Ludlow.
The project involves an area that includes and extends the lower levels of Ludlow’s Galdeford car park, providing room for a dozen stands for buses and coaches and specific parking bays for use by motorcyclists, taxi drivers, disabled drivers, and visitors arriving in larger vehicles, such as motor caravans.
A one-way system is proposed that would see coaches and buses turning off Station Drive opposite the train station to access the transport hub, and then leaving by a separate exit higher up Station Drive.
The hub would allow people to arrive in Ludlow by bus, coach, car, cycle or a short walk from the train station and then link up with the town bus services and taxi companies to access the shopping centre at the top of the hill and other areas of the town.
Cecilia Motley, leader of the council, said: “The aim is to provide facilities to make it easier and more convenient for people of all abilities to access Ludlow’s town centre, no matter which form of transport they use to arrive in the town, and it is just the kind of thing this council is here to do.
“We’re pleased to be presenting a sound case for this project, embedding it on the agenda before the unitary authority takes overall responsibility for such matters next year.” Graham Biggs, chief executive of the district council said: “The executive committee has received the study and agrees that this plan forms a good basis for discussion.
“The scheme is set to cost at least £1.5 million, quite possible nearer £2 million once land acquisition and project management costs have been added in. It is clearly beyond the resources of this council, which will cease to exist in March next year, so the executive has agreed to promote the study to the new Shropshire Council for inclusion the forward capital programme in the early years of the unitary.”he UK, though of course it takes longer to send a consignment abroad.”
