Expressions of interest invited for bike hire and last-mile delivery schemes in Shrewsbury
Operators are being invited to express their interest in providing a public bike hire or last-mile delivery scheme as part of plans to increase active travel options in Shrewsbury.
Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership has recently secured more than £340,000 of UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding (UK SPF) to deliver a package of sustainable transport measures in Shrewsbury town centre, including a last-mile delivery scheme and bike hire scheme.
The measures in the project are part of a joint UK SPF and Big Town Plan funding programme.
The partnership, made up of Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and Shrewsbury BID, is now inviting expressions of interest from third party providers for operation of a public bike hire scheme and/or a commercial last-mile delivery scheme in Shrewsbury.
More details, including timescales and project brief, can be found online.
Interested providers should notify Shrewsbury BID by 5pm on Wednesday 10 April 2024 that they intend to submit an Expression of Interest and are available to attend a Supplier Day on Wednesday 24th April 2024.
The work builds on previous work on Shrewsbury Moves, a Movement and Public Space Strategy for the town, which has recently been subject to a public consultation exercise.
The strategy outlines a range of proposals for how through-traffic can be reduced and the town centre environment improved over the next 10 years.
Councillor Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s representative on Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, said:
“We are really looking forward to seeing the raft of exciting improvements which will be delivered through this project over the coming months.”
Councillor Alan Mosley, Shrewsbury Town Council’s representative on the Big Town Plan Partnership, said:
“The bike hire and last-mile delivery schemes will enable more people to either leave their car at home or park on the edge of town rather than having to drive right into the town centre.
“This will help reduce the amount of through traffic and improve the whole experience of spending time in the town centre, which will be positive for everyone.”
Seb Slater, Shrewsbury BID’s representative on the Big Town Plan Partnership, added:
“We are absolutely delighted to have received significant funding for this project, which will have a really positive impact on Shrewsbury as a whole. It’s really exciting and will give more options for how people and businesses can move in and around Shrewsbury.”
