Shrewsbury relief road alternative 'still a threat to green belt'

Campaigners who claimed victory in their battle against Shrewsbury's proposed £100 million North West Relief Road have claimed a rival scheme would still be damaging to the environment.

A new report has revealed that a multi-million pound Parkway railway station could be built instead of pushing ahead with the relief road scheme in an attempt to reduce congestion in Shrewsbury.

But the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Friends of the Earth today warned it would still involve destroying green belt land.

Selby Martin, from the CPRE Shropshire branch, today urged Shropshire Council to come up with better options.

He said he supported the majority of proposed changes under a £30 million package of improvements, except for the Parkway railway station which would be built at Preston Boats, near Preston Island.

Officers say it would also be linked to a new bus-based park and ride.

But Mr Martin said: "We are obviously very concerned about the Parkway railway station at Preston Boats because that is also a very sensitive area and it's outside Shrewsbury's development boundary.

"The station would require a lot of additional development such as toilets, a cafe and a waiting room.

"If you are going to have a Parkway railway station it's not just a matter of putting in a platform. You have got to have parking and a big area with supplementary building put up to service that station."

Judith Rice, co-ordinator of Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth, said her group was also concerned about the proposed station because of the impact it would have on the countryside.

She said the council should instead develop its other suggested schemes to reduce congestion.

The plans for the station are contained in the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Strategy.

The document also includes plans for urban traffic control, junction enhancements on both the inner ring road and outer by-pass, phased downgrading of the Smithfield Road route and real time traffic and car park vacancy information available to help road users choose the most appropriate route and/or car park.

Councillors will be asked to agree to halt work on the road scheme and concentrate on a £30 million package of highway projects when the cabinet meets on Wednesday.

By Russell Roberts