North Shropshire Reform UK

02/11/2026

31/10/2026

31/10/2026

A step back in time - meet shire horses Edward and Bernie, who appear in the latest edition of A Shropshire Lad. It was an absolute pleasure to photograph them at Acton Scott Heritage Farm while I was working on a new version of Housman’s much-loved work. A huge thank you to horseman Steve Ledsham for putting these gentle giants through their paces and bringing 19th century rural Shropshire back to life. Edward was so eager to see his picture that he couldn’t resist taking a bite out of the book - see photo in the comments!

A Shropshire Lad, illustrated with my images, is available in local bookshops and outlets, direct from the publisher, Merlin Unwin Books, and via my website.

30/10/2026

🏡 TERRICK ROAD, WHITCHURCH: WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING?
ADMIN:
There’s been a lot of understandable confusion surrounding the Terrick Road planning application.
❓ Is this a new application?
📋 What relevance does the previous Planning Inspector’s decision have?
⚠️ And what does the 31 October change to the Council’s call-in arrangements mean for proper democratic scrutiny?
We asked Cllr Brian Evans for his take on where things stand 👇
________________________________________
🗣️ CLLR BRIAN EVANS:
There IS a new planning application. Let’s start there.
And it is this new application that Cllr Andy Hall is reportedly considering calling in to the Planning Committee.
But we shouldn’t pretend the history simply disappears.
The previous Planning Inspector’s findings matter. The Town Council’s objections matter. And the concerns being raised by local people matter.
What troubles me now is the 31 October change to the Council’s call-in arrangements.
Whatever the eventual decision on the application, residents deserve proper scrutiny, not a procedural door closing while a live application is still being considered.
I’m not arguing here that the application should be approved or refused.
I’m arguing for something much more fundamental:
🔎 Transparency.
✅ Accountability.
🗣️ Proper democratic scrutiny.
If the evidence supports the application, let that evidence be tested.
If there are legitimate reasons for concern, let those be tested too.
That’s how the planning system should work.
Cllr Brian Evans

11/10/2026

Cllr BRIAN EVANS TAKES A SECOND LOOK
Our earlier post asked whether Shropshire Council’s parking policy should be about getting more people into Shrewsbury, or simply more people onto buses.
We thought the argument was worth exploring further.
Brian Evans, Reform UK councillor for St Martin’s Division, is the Reform UK Council Group’s Planning & Heritage Subject Matter Expert.
So we asked Brian to set the politics of parking aside for a moment and look at the issue through his heritage hat.
His response raises a much bigger question.
Shrewsbury isn’t just a place that needs a parking strategy.
Shrewsbury itself is a heritage asset.
So shouldn’t we start with how we attract people, keep it vibrant, and ensure its historic town centre continues to thrive?
Brian explains below.
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VISITORS AREN’T THE PROBLEM. THEY’RE THE ANSWER.
The more I’ve thought about these parking proposals, the more I think they’ve been looking in the wrong direction.
Shrewsbury isn’t simply a town centre.
It is one of Shropshire’s greatest heritage assets.
Historic England’s Shrewsbury Local Heritage Hub highlights some of the town's remarkable historic places, while the Shrewsbury Heritage Trail connects Shrewsbury’s history and architecture directly with its independent shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
That connection matters.
Because protecting heritage isn’t simply about preserving old buildings.
It’s about keeping a historic town alive.
And what keeps a historic town alive?
People.
People walking its streets.
People discovering its history.
People visiting its shops and markets.
People eating in its cafés, pubs and restaurants.
People attending events.
People spending time there.
People discovering Shrewsbury and wanting to come back.
And that brings me back to something I said in my original response.
I said visitors weren’t a problem to be managed.
Having thought about it further, I’d go further:
Visitors aren’t the problem. They’re the answer.
Of course we need to manage congestion.
We need good public transport.
And Park & Ride absolutely has a part to play.
But transport policy should serve Shrewsbury.
Shrewsbury should not be expected to serve transport policy.
Make Park & Ride attractive because it’s convenient, reliable and good value.
Give people a genuine choice.
But don’t make visiting the town by other means progressively more expensive simply to influence how people choose to travel.
For me, the real test of any policy should be:
Does it help more people experience Shrewsbury and support the businesses, organisations and communities that keep this historic town alive?
Because a busy car park alongside a thriving historic town isn’t necessarily evidence of a transport problem.
It might just be evidence that people want to be there.
And when we are responsible for one of Shropshire’s greatest heritage assets, we should welcome them.
Visitors aren’t the problem.
They’re the answer.
Cllr Brian Evans.

10/10/2026

🚗 NORTH SHROPSHIRE: HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

Shropshire Council is consulting on a new Local Transport Plan to guide transport policy and investment across the county from 2027 to 2037.

For North Shropshire, this really matters.

Our transport needs don't always match those of larger towns and urban areas.

For many people living in our villages and rural communities, getting to work, school, healthcare, shops and services depends upon being able to travel reliably. We also need better public transport, safer roads, and a properly maintained highway network.

The draft plan specifically covers public transport, road safety, rural accessibility, transport infrastructure, access to future homes and jobs, and protecting Shropshire's natural, built and historic environment.

So this is the time to speak up.

What should Shropshire Council's transport priorities be for North Shropshire over the next ten years?

The Oswestry drop-in has now taken place, but there are further sessions, including:

📍 Whitchurch: Thursday 22 October, 10am to 3pm
📍 Market Drayton: Monday 9 November, 12pm to 5pm
💻 Online: Tuesday 20 October, 12pm to 1pm
💻 Online: Monday 2 November, 6pm to 7pm

The consultation remains open until 11:59pm on Monday 16 November.

👉 Have your say:
https://getinvolved.shropshire.gov.uk/consultations/shropshire-local-transport-plan/

North Shropshire needs a transport strategy that works for North Shropshire. Make sure your voice is heard.

09/10/2026

MORE PEOPLE IN SHREWSBURY… OR MORE PEOPLE ON BUSES?
Shropshire Council is considering significant increases to some parking charges in Shrewsbury, alongside longer charging hours and changes to Sunday and Bank Holiday charging. The Council says it would reinvest the additional revenue into transport services, while the review also proposes bringing back Sunday Park & Ride.
We asked Cllr Brian Evans for his thoughts.
His first reaction was a pretty simple question:
“Are we trying to get more people into Shrewsbury, or just more people onto buses?”
Here’s what Brian had to say.
We’d be interested to hear your views too.
________________
DON’T TAX VISITORS TO FUND BUSES
I keep coming back to one question.
What are we actually trying to achieve?
Surely our objective should be to get more people into Shrewsbury, supporting its shops, markets, cafés, pubs, restaurants, attractions and events.
Park & Ride has an important role to play. If we provide a convenient, reliable and good-value service, people will choose to use it.
But that’s very different from making parking increasingly expensive in order to encourage people onto public transport.
Visitors aren’t the problem to be managed.
They’re customers, tourists, volunteers, spectators and families. They bring life into Shrewsbury and support the businesses and organisations that make the town what it is.
If a Sunday Park & Ride service represents good value for Shrewsbury, then make the case.
Publish the forecasts.
Publish the costs.
Publish the expected passenger demand.
Let people see the evidence.
And then give people genuine transport choices.
Don’t simply reach for motorists’ wallets.
I think the approach should be straightforward:
Keep Shrewsbury accessible.
Support local businesses.
Welcome visitors.
Offer people choices, not financial penalties.
Park & Ride should succeed because people choose it, not because every alternative has been made progressively more expensive.
So I come back to where I started:
Are we trying to get more people into Shrewsbury, or just more people onto buses?
Cllr Brian Evans
Reform UK
North Shropshire Branch

08/10/2026