Andy Boddington: News from Ludlow

As Yes Prime Minister tours to packed houses in theatres around the country, news breaks that a lost fragment of Yes Minister has been discovered at the bottom of a waste bin in Shropshire that hadn’t been emptied for some while… Cast Jim Hacker MP, Minister for Administrative Affairs. Sir Humprey Appleton, Permanent Secretary. Bernard Wooley, Principal Private Secretary.   Jim Hacker: Humprey,…

Here is the latest news on the roadworks published yesterday afternoon by Shropshire Council on Facebook. It is very different from the information I provided at the weekend, which was based on information from a highways officer last Thursday. The critical changes are: Buses will no longer be allowed through the roadworks, meaning that the 702 will be diverted and will no longer serve Steventon…

The next week is going to difficult for traffic in Ludlow. Sheet Road and Lower Galdeford are due to be closed in stages from Monday 23 March until Tuesday 31 March. Anyone who has driven or cycled over these roads recently, or has passed through on a bus will be familiar with the shaking and rattling that the road surface generates. The road needs resurfacing and that what’s going to happen from…

Ludlow Youth Centre was put out of action by an out-of-control HGV on 28 April 2025. Services were decanted elsewhere in the town, including to Helena Lane. Since then, it has been a struggle to get the centre back open. The good news is that it is anticipated Ludlow Youth Centre will reopen in July and be handed back to the Ludlow and Area Partnership (LACP) for community support and youth…

Shropshire is not alone in facing a pothole crisis but it is very bad here. The roads are in the worst condition that they have been in living memory. This article looks at why that has happened and what Shropshire Council is doing about it. Cars are not causing the damage, just suffering from it with wrecked tyres and axles. The damage to our roads has been caused in part by an increase in HGVs…

Shropshire Council is proposing to increase council tax by 8.99%. I say propose, it’s an absolute certainty unless the government suddenly finds more money for rural areas. That won’t happen. Labour ministers think a 12% budget cut over the next three years is the right funding for Shropshire. It is not. The cut comes on top of 16 years of Conservative mismanagement of the council’s finances. The…

On Thursday, the three unitary councillors for Ludlow met with Andy Wigley, Policy and Environment Service Manager, and Andy Jones, Team Manager Building Control, to discuss the derelict former Costa Coffee on King Street. The outcome was some immediate work to ensure the building is safe and an agreement to ensure an application for work on the building is submitted within two months. If that…

A task and finish group has been set up to review the future of Shirehall, the former headquarters of Shropshire Council on Abbey Foregate. Although now barely occupied, the building is far from derelict and could be brought back into use for civic, commercial and housing use. My view is that it is better to reuse a building than demolish it and use the site for newbuild. Shirehall could also…

On Thursday evening, Shropshire Council’s Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny committee met to discuss introducing weekly food waste collection from 31 March, as mandated by the government. The council does not have enough money to introduce the service. Instead of providing extra support to the council for its increased costs, the government has axed millions from our budget. Asked to…

The West Midlands Traffic Area Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington has ordered unsafe Lugg Valley buses off the road after several buses were discovered to have safety faults. One bus recently caught on fire while carrying school passengers. A tyre at risk of blow out, defective brakes and a wheel at risk of falling off are among the faults discovered by the Commissioner who described the…

We survived the Halloween weekend. In modern tradition, it is a time to be scared. The spooks have gone, but when it comes to Shropshire Council’s finances, you should be scared. I am very scared. As has been widely reported, Shropshire Council is close to going broke. If it does so, the government will send in commissioners who will ignore local needs, local values and local wishes. They will…

The first phase of Awaab’s Law comes into force today. It will force social landlords to take urgent action to fix dangerous homes for all four million of England’s social rented homes (Connexus, Bromford, Wrekin, etc.). If social landlords can’t meet new deadlines, they will be obliged to offer alternative accommodation. If they fail, tenants can take legal action against for the landlord for…

There is an emergency closure in place for Old Street after Severn Trent Water discovered a void under the road while investigating a leak. The 435, 701, 722, 702, 703, 740, 738 and 745 bus services will depart from Tesco, not the Compasses on Corve Street. I have asked for signage but I don’t know when it will arrive. The Upper Galdeford bus stops will be in use as normal, including for…

Cancer Research is closing almost 200 of its shops over the next 18 months. The Ludlow Castle Street shop is on the list and is expected to close at the beginning of the year. Shrewsbury is slated to close by May 2026. This will be a loss to the market area and I hope that new tenants for the premises are found quickly. Continue reading Cancer Research shop in Ludlow (and Shrewsbury) to close…

Shropshire Council has today announced that car parking charges are to rise across the county, including in Ludlow. Charges will increase for Zone A and Zone B on street parking. Off street parking at Castle Street and Galdeford A (upper deck) will also increase. Charges for Galdeford B (lower decks) and Smithfield car parks will remain the same. Continue reading Parking charges are to increase…

The current date for demolition of the former Somerfield, Co-op, Budgens supermarket building is currently set for 20 October. The work will take about three months. There is no immediate prospect of a new development on the site, whether that is for business, retail or housing use. The site will be landscaped and become an open space. Talks are underway on the details of that space which is…

Last week I met with Rupert Reeves, the Operations Manager of Fireside Inns and Gemma, the interior designer to discuss the refurbishment and reopening of the Blue Boar. The refurbishment work is first class, the pricing point is about right for Ludlow town centre and there is a commitment to support community activities. It will sell local beers. The current target for reopening is 16 October.…