Policing a priority for Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association
A residents association representing the loop of the river in Shrewsbury is looking forward to a busy 2025, having been reinvigorated with a new committee and series of well-attended public meetings.
The Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association was founded in 1990, and for many years played an important role in representing local people on a number topics, from planning and heritage to the Quarry Pool.
Having fallen into a period of inactivity over the pandemic, the Association now says it is looking forward to its busiest year in a long time, having hosted an AGM with over 70 and an open meeting about Town Centre policing with over 30 attendees, featuring an excellent presentation by the Town Centre Police Safer Neighbourhood Team.
The next STCRA public meeting will be with Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley, hosted at St Chad's Parish Hall at 10.30am on Saturday the 8th of March. Residents who live within the loop are invited to attend and share their views on Town Centre issues with Julia, in what is hoped will be a productive and positive discussion.
The newly elected Chairman, Peter Stewart, says that STCRA's role is more important than ever given the huge amount of activity happening within the loop of the river.
Peter Stewart said:"It is exciting and positive that residents within the river loop have the Association to promote their interest and views, and collaborate with other parties.
"I am grateful that our excellent Committee is working on a number of initiatives which will contribute to enhancing the unique character of our wonderful Town Centre.
Vice Chairman Alex Wagner says that one of the key priorities for Town Centre residents is safety and action on anti-social behaviour, adding that restoring a Police Base to the Town Centre is a key campaigning goal for STCRA.
Councillor Alex Wagner said: "There are a number of recurring concerns that Town Centre residents regularly raise, like traffic and cleanliness. However in our surveys and on the doorstep, nothing comes up as much as the call for action on crime and anti-social behaviour.
"Restoring a Police Base to the Town Centre would help enormously and make it easier for hard-working Police Officers to do their jobs and patrol our streets without being stuck in traffic on the way to and from Monkmoor.
"At a recent meeting with the Police, residents were unanimous in feeling that this idea should be a key campaigning priority for the good of the town."
