'The public want to know who did what, when, how and why': Inquiry to be held into handling of ill-fated £39m Shropshire road project
An investigation will take place into the handling of Shrewsbury's now cancelled North West Relief Road Project.
After years of uncertainty the project was officially cancelled by Shropshire Council's Liberal Democrat administration yesterday (February 26).
The group had proposed the project be scrapped, and was backed by Green Party and Labour councillors.
The scheme had been a flagship project proposed by the previous Conservative administration, which lost control of the council in last May's elections.
This week's decision brings to an end the chaotic saga of the relief road, which has been characterised by confusion and a lack of certainty over financing and vital planning agreements.
In total £39 million has been spent on the project, without a single metre of tarmac to show for it.
The council has had to borrow money from the Government in case it needs to reimburse it for millions of pounds it has already spent from a Department for Transport grant awarded for the project, worth a total of £54m.
It is yet to be confirmed whether the money will need to be paid back, with discussions ongoing between the council and the Government.
The road was scrapped with costs ballooning from an original estimate of £74.2m to £162.4m.
During Thursday's council meeting the administration was pressed on whether it will investigate the handling of the project.
A member of the public, John Palmer, quizzed the administration on the issue during the public questions section of the meeting.
In a question to Lib Dem portfolio holder for highways, David Vasmer, he called for a "fully transparent inquiry".
He said: "Today you are setting your annual budget for 2026/27, impacted greatly by £39m spent under the Conservatives on the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road project, with nothing to show for it but a monumental budget line problem of a road in the hole.
"What the public want to know is exactly who did what, when, how and why?
"Is this council going to stop dillydallying, before the evidence records and recollections magically disappear, and announce a fully transparent Inquiry?"
In response Councillor Vasmer said a council 'task and finish' group would investigate the handling of the scheme - with ability to call witnesses for evidence.
He said: "While the decision on the future of the North West Relief Road was still paused, it was not possible to announce an inquiry into the project.
"However, I hope that its future will be resolved later on during the course of this meeting.
"We will then consult with the Transformation and Improvement Scrutiny Committee about appointing a Task and Finish Group to investigate why so much money was spent, with the ability to call witnesses.
"When the terms of reference for this Task and Finish Group are drawn up, I will ask that the lines of questioning you suggest are considered."
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