£8 million bypass scheme hope

An accident blackspot in Shropshire could be replaced with an £8 million bypass, it has been revealed.

Campaigners have long been calling for the bypass at Sandford Bridge, near Whitchurch.

Shropshire County Council is applying for government funding for the road, but is planning on contributing £1.28m itself.

Preliminary work on the scheme will begin in the new financial year, which starts in April.

A report to cabinet on Wednesday says that following de-trunking of the A41, the council has become "increasingly aware" of the need to address safety concerns at Sandford and a bypass was being considered.

It is proposed to spend £70,000 this year on scheme preparation. An opening date of March 2013 is assumed by which time costs to the council will have totalled £8.2 million.

The work is part of a £60 million budget over the next three years which will be spent on Shropshire transport schemes and road improvements.

As well as the bypass, there is £4,175,000 earmarked for integrated transport and a £291,000 allocation for work on de-trunked roads.

The council has £250,000 towards the cost of strengthening the Maestermyn Canal Bridge near Oswestry and a new Road Safety Fund grant of £166,969 to develop initiatives to further reduce road traffic casualties.

The council is also looking to spend £716,480 during the year on buying 10 minibuses for rural use.