Floods, crime, and reshaping the town could be big issues for Shrewsbury voters
As much as we love Shrewsbury, things haven't been all rosy in the Town of Flowers over the last couple of years.
Floods have devastated residents and local businesses on multiple occasions. These communities will be looking for strong representation who will not only muck in when needed, but fight tooth and nail for changes to be brought in at pace to save the town from more disasters.
More recently, there has been a large flare up of violence, break-ins and anti-social behaviour in the last month or so, particularly in the town centre. Some voters may argue that major projects such at the North West Relief Road and the Big Town Plan should take a back seat and finances should be invested into making the town a safer place. Better CCTV and more bobbies on the beat would no doubt be welcomed by business owners and shoppers, but would local council candidates have the connections, influence and dogged determination it would take to help achieve such things?
Speaking of the £87 million Relief Road, that is a topic which has sparked a noisy debate, with those against it tending to shout the loudest. There have been a number of publicity stunts and protests held in recent weeks by environmental campaigners, including a 'climate crime scene' demonstration at Shirehall, and 'red rebels' tying themselves to Darwin's Oak, a historic oak tree that would likely be chopped down if the road is built. At last count there were more than 1,700 comments on the plans, most of them negative, though Shrewsbury Business Chamber put its head above the parapet and insisted the road is a good idea.
Often when constituents hear "roadworks", it conjures sighs of disillusionment, as the reality of noisy workers and endless traffic queues bites. Will candidates' stance on this hold much sway for voters? Or, after years of talk and little action, will they even care? Voters may value positive changes to their own, small communities over major projects that cover the whole town.
Which leads us onto the Big Town Plan. Virtual festivals and consultations have been held and, as with most projects like this, architects have released artists impressions of such shimmering radiance they wouldn't look out of place in Times Square. Though that kind of thing is less likely to fill you with giddy excitement if you're living in a damp flat in Ditherington, or in an area of town riddled by poverty and drug dealing.
The masterplan issue, and whether your local councillor can have any significant input into it, is likely to be far more important to people in the wealthier areas of town than the poorer.
Has your councillor been helpful or hopeless in recent years? Whichever it is, don't waste your chance to keep them in or kick them out.
