Roads specialist to visit Shropshire 'rat-run' village

Parish councillors in Ruyton-XI-Towns have said they are "at their wits' end" with the high speeds vehicles are travelling through the village on a daily basis, so have requested a visit from Ben Hamilton-Baillie, a leading urban designer and specialist in street design and movement.

Mr Hamilton-Baillie will join talks with concerned councillors and residents at a meeting in the Parish Hall on November 19.

Councillor Mary Drinam said the village is used as a "rat-run" for many wanting to avoid the A5 to get to Shrewsbury.

She said: "Unfortunately we're finding many vehicles are travelling at a speed far faster than is safe for a small village.

"You'd think the fact that it's a small village with a school would slow people down but it makes no difference.

"Flashing speed signs get ignored, we see enormous vehicles such as animal feed trucks rattling through the village at horrific speeds.

"Large vehicles are not designed to go at those speeds. It really is dangerous, as a woman in her 80s that walks with a stick, I find it terrifying and I know it isn't just me who feels this way."

Councillor Drinam and the parish council are calling for action to be taken "before someone is killed".

"It shouldn't take a terrible accident or someone to be killed for something to be done, changes need to happen before it gets to that," she said.

"Many people say it's a case of money but I'm afraid this is an issue of safety."

This will be the second time Mr Hamilton-Baillie has paid a visit to the village to discuss the road safety problems.

"It's a real triumph for him to be coming again, and I want to encourage everyone to come along and hear what he has to say and share ideas," Councillor Drinam said.

After his last visit, Mr Hamilton-Baillie's recommendations for the village involved enhancing areas such as the school entrance, local shops and the pub, so drivers know they're in a village and not just on a road.

Meanwhile, fresh discussions on the possibility of dualling the A5 are to be held soon.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, a long-time campaigner for improvements to the road, has today confirmed he will meet the divisional director for strategy and planning of Highways England to press them further about a funding pot that could be tapped into to help fund the work.

The meeting starts at 3pm in the Parish Hall.