Welcome to the Ludlow Civic Society in Shropshire, UK

The Ludlow Civic Society, along with other organisations and with the residents and visitors to Ludlow are concerned about the issues of traffic in the Town. The Society feels that balancing the requirement for a vibrant future for the whole Town with the needs to conserve its unique, historic and alterative nature is a major challenge for which there is no single 'magic' solution. Indeed, the solution is continue the active and dynamic interplay between the conflicting demands on the Town such that a viable balance is maintained. Some years ago he Civic Society commissioned a working group to study the 'big-picture' of traffic issues in Ludlow and then agreed on a set of Policy Statements to be used to guide the Civic Society's thinking when considering planning matters. The Policy Statements were that the Civic Society supports:

1. Improvements in access at the northern end of the bypass to allow traffic from the Town to turn towards the south.
2. Strongly endorses any valid structured survey of traffic patterns in Ludlow.
3. The provision of further long-term parking near to the town centre including a well-designed and well-sited multi-storey car parks outside the Town walls.
4. The provision of good quality 'park and ride' schemes during major events.
5. The provision of additional / alternative drop-off / pickup points for coaches and the provision of coach parking (but not in the old town).
6. Enforcement of traffic regulations in the town centre.
7. The provision of a proper Residents' parking scheme to include reserved spaces and a residents' parking permit.
8. The establishment of new pedestrian areas where suitable, but opposes complete pedestrianisation of the central part of the old town between the Bull Ring and Castle Square.
9. The provision at the railway station of a rail / bus interchange service.
10. The use of pedal cycles and the provision of bicycle stands.

Much has happened since this review was made. There is now in place a metered parking system with residents' parking permits and a park and ride scheme. But not all is satisfactory and an additonal consultaion is to be made by the County Council to confirm support to the oficers of the County in making changes to the system in place. We await the results of this consultaion before full details of the shceme, and the items missing as listed above can be made.

Ludlow Civic Society - Traffic and Parking in Ludlow