BROADGATE, the medieval southern entrance to Ludlow, will remain closed for this weekend's food and drink festival.

The 13th century archway closed in July at the end of the Ludlow Festival for vital repair work.

Contractors originally hoped it would open six weeks later, in time for the last major crowd-pulling event of the summer.

Damage, caused when a lorry carrying tilting gear smashed into the arch, led to further complications and threw the original timetable into disarray.

Visitors to the food festival will be encouraged to avoid the town centre and use a park and ride scheme from the A49 and A4117 instead.

No date has been fixed for the reopening of the gate but a straw poll conducted by the Town Centre Residents' Association shows that only a few want a permanent closure.

If Broadgate stayed closed, said one resident, the town would become so unfriendly to traffic that those who could would avoid it altogether."

Another said it was "like putting antique porcelain or glass in a case and not using it" and made for appalling traffic, particularly in Brand Lane and Bell Lane.

Those wanting permanent closure were outnumbered two to one.

Car free plea

"Make this town more car free and pedestrian friendly," pleaded one advocate of keeping the gate closed.

Another called the closure "an unmitigated success," making Ludlow "a much safer place for pedestrians and residents."

The comments add further spice to the separate survey by Shropshire County Council into Ludlow's traffic and parking problems.

Nearly 1,000 people have so far responded to a questionnaire that went out to every household in the town. Next Tuesday, three days before the deadline for responses, the South Shropshire Access Group will meet officials to discuss proposals to cut or move disabled parking spots.

Group chairman Richard Phillips said the plans included shifting two of the four disabled spots at the top of Broad Street to further down the road and the other two into Brand Lane.

Six spaces in Mill Street will be reduced to four in front of the castle.

The meeting is due to be held in the Red Cross Centre, at 7.30pm.

Hugh Dannatt, head of traffic strategy for the county council, said: "Nothing is set in tablets of stone and we will welcome comments.

"This is the consultation for disabled people.

"We want to hear from as many people as possible - keep the questionnaires coming in."