OK, a comment on the MEB thread made reminded me of something that I have been thinking about for some time. Although strictly there are only 4 road entry points into the town centre, there are quite a few routes to these points. Clockwise from 12 o'clock these are
1. Coton Hill / Berwick Road
2. Coton Hill / Ellesmere Road
3. Castle Foregate
4. Abbey Foregate
5. Old Potts Way
6. Belle Vue Road
7. Longden Coleham
8. Kingsland
9. Frankwell / Porthill Road
10. Frankwell / Copthorne Road
11. Frankwell / The Mount
Obviously these are all different to each other in terms of land use, age of road, congestion, etc. But which ones do you think give the best introduction to the town, and why?
To start the ball rolling, I quite like the two southern approaches along Belle Vue Road and Longden Coleham. They both have their problems, but I like the relatively human scale of things on those roads.
Of the others, Castle Foregate and Abbey Foregate are just too busy and Old Potts Way is soulless.
Let's start with the four access points to the town centre - the Welsh Bridge, English Bridge, Kingsland Bridge and Castle Foregate. Kingsland Brigde is the poshest of the lot, the Welsh and English Bridges give good vistas of the town and Castle Foregate is just crap. :o
And that's how the general theme goes for the routes into the town centre - the northern approach is quite frankly terrible, compared to the others, though there have been improvements made recently and more redevelopment is on its way.
The Coton Hill approaches are quite rural still. Old Potts Way isn't too bad - in some ways it gives the feel of a commercial nexus when you drive in that way. Abbey Foregate is Shrewsbury in its traditional fashion. Coleham is... well, Coleham. And Frankwell makes you think you are in the town centre, when you're just in the little borough's own streets.
Good thing that the Borough Council have started a project concentrating on the northern corridor into town - it certainly needs some attention!
Also, on the subject of visitors' views as they enter our town, what about the by-pass and its roundabouts? Anyone got their worse examples or some favourites?