Seven months of work to start on Shrewsbury's Pride Hill
Works to Shrewsbury's main shopping street will get underway next week, bringing disruption for seven months.
Pride Hill will be spruced up at a cost of £750,000 in work that will not be completed until November.
The current red brick surface will be torn up and granite setts and York stone slabs laid in their place.
There will be new street furniture including benches, planters and street lights along with some additional trees in large containers.
The work comes as part of the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, which has seen the overhaul of Wyle Cop and the Gyratory as well as the reconfiguration of the Meole Brace roundabout.
Shropshire Council says the Pride Hill work, which start next Monday, will last for more than 40 years.
The council is working alongside Shrewsbury BID, Shrewsbury Town Council, WSP Shropshire Design Consultancy and Casey Group Contractors to bring their vision to life.
It admits there will be some disruption but says it is confident shopkeepers and big stores will come onside while the work is undertaken.
Matt Johnson, strategic transport and contracts manager for Shropshire Council, said: "Having taken over the two shopping centres, this has given us the opportunity to make a real gateway into the town.
"This has given us the chance to improve Pride Hill and make it a keynote area."
Workers will begin to replace paving and street furniture and remove a tree on Pride Hill in sections and there will be three feature sections of the pavement by the Darwin Shopping Centre, Butcher Row and Pride Hill Shopping Centre.
"These will bring people in to the shopping centres and will give a sense of arrival," said Mr Johnson. "The street furniture will move to the right hand side of the street and there will be designated walkways or pavements down each side. Some of the setts will be etched with icons of the town, making it all the more unique.
"We are going to have major works ongoing when the Britain in Bloom judges visit in the summer but this can be used to our advantage. They will be able to see how the work will be bringing Shrewsbury up to date.
"The work will be carried out in sections. First the 'pavements' which will run down both sides of Pride Hill will be completed and then the central section will be done. This is to minimise the disruption."
A drop in shop will open in a vacant unit within the Darwin Shopping Centre enabling people to have a look at the scheme and study the slabs and setts for themselves before they are laid.
Mr Johnson added: "It is going to be great for the next 40 years."
