Shifnal Town Councillors’ Surgery
I attended the monthly Shifnal Town Councillors’ Surgery at the library from 10am – 12 last Saturday (21st February).
Unfortunately we only had one resident contacting us. He asked about the Aston Street car park and wanted to know when we would start charging for commuters to use it.
We agreed that parking there is becoming a problem and that the Council have now raised it to a ‘red’ task (priority) on its strategic plan. This means the council intends to conclude this matter within 12 months.
An up to date survey will be completed on the car park’s usage with the intention of then installing an ANPR system.
The ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) will enable:
- Free parking for short stays (e.g., up to a set time limit, such as 2 hours, to encourage quick visits and turnover).
- Charged parking for longer stays (e.g., all-day or exceeding the free period), helping to manage space availability and generate revenue where appropriate.
Additionally, the system will support a whitelist for vehicle registration numbers, allowing exemptions for designated users such as local businesses, residents, staff, or other authorised vehicles. This ensures flexibility while preventing abuse of the free short-stay provision.
The ANPR approach will provide automated, contactless enforcement and monitoring, with clear signage to inform users of the rules, free periods, charges, and how to register for exemptions if eligible.
Let me know if you’d like to adjust the short-stay time limit, add more details on charges, or tailor the tone (e.g., more formal for a council notice or announcement).
Thomas Beddoes Road Adoption
I received the following response from Shropshire Council officers regarding the progress (or not) of road adoption on the Thomas Beddoes development:
“The Thomas Beddoes development remains the responsibility of Taylor Wimpey. We have been working with them over a number of years to move forward with the adoption of Thomas Beddoes and the wider development (see attached phasing plan) regrettably it has taken longer than we would normally expect. It remains our intention to take on the roads, footways and street lighting as highway, but unfortunately we don’t have a timescale for adoption, this will depend on the completion of remedial works by Taylor Wimpey and the adoption of the sewers by the Local Water Authority, Severn Trent Water. We are aware of a number of outstanding sites that have not yet been adopted, we are working with our consultants WSP to develop a plan to move forward with these adoptions, the Thomas Beddoes site is a site that is a priority to ensure that the adoption takes place as soon as possible and we would be happy to provide updates as required.”
Our latest Full Council meeting was held on Thursday, 19th February 2026, at the Shifnal Community Hub. Here are the most significant updates and decisions impacting our town:
Shifnal Town Council Update: Key Decisions from February 2026
Investing in Our Parks
One of the most exciting developments is the progress on our local play areas. Following a public consultation that concluded in January, the Council has awarded the contract for the provision of four new play areas to Komplan. This project represents a major investment in Shifnal’s youth, with a total agreed cost of £334,150.85 plus a contingency budget.
A Packed Events Calendar for 2026
We are committed to keeping Shifnal a vibrant place to live and have approved a diverse schedule of community events for the upcoming year. Highlights include:
- Council-led Halloween and Easter Events: These will replace the provision previously delivered by Love Shifnal, ensuring these family traditions continue.
- Interactive Crime Scene Trail: In an exciting move, our Operations Officer is investigating a collaboration with West Mercia Police to bring a live CSI Event to the town during the Halloween period for older children.
Council Vacancy and Administration
We deferred a decision on co-option for the Shifnal South Ward casual vacancy, with two applications received .
Join Us at the Next Meeting
Your input is always valued. The Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Friday, 8th May 2026, at the Village Hall. This is a great opportunity to hear more about our strategic priorities and meet with your local representatives.
Follow my blog for further updates on Shifnal Town Council activities.
Edward Bird - Councillor for Shifnal South and Cosford 
Why is there no discussions on the congested road infrastructure which clearly requires strategic development. The roads with Shifnal require serious development to cope with the traffic congestion due to minimal routes leading in and out of the town whilst adding further property developments to add to the chaos we already have.
LikeLike
Thanks for your comment Chris. You are right traffic congestion is a problem. There was a survey on modifying Innage Road but this was rejected by residents. Under the most recent Shropshire Council Local Plan a ‘bypass’ was suggested between the Bridgnorth Road and Priorslee Road, however this would need to go through a narrow tunnel underneath the railway line and avoid a cemetery. However the local plan has now been abandoned so we will have to see what the current administration put forward. Other suggestions have been for the High Street to become a one way street (the bypass would have implied Innage Road becoming one way). Shifnal is restricted due to the railway infrastructure. Have a local railway station is a blessing however it does have some negative impacts.
LikeLike
The proposal for Aston Street car park sounds like a good plan. When will it be implemented?
LikeLike
I am hoping within 12 months, it is one of the council’s highest priorities now, Ed.
LikeLike