Shrewsbury traffic island to get chop after protests

A controversial traffic refuge is to be ripped up and removed from the centre of Shrewsbury less than two years after it was installed in a £1.8 million traffic improvement project.

Motorists said the island, at the Roushill junction in Smithfield Road, has caused long tailbacks. Now, following pressure from town councillors, officials at Shropshire Council have decided to remove it before this year's Shrewsbury Flower Show.

Shrewsbury Town Council leader Peter Nutting said there had been a 'battle' against highways officials to get the refuge removed but welcomed the decision as a victory for common sense.

The island forced two lanes of traffic travelling from the direction of Welsh Bridge towards the railway station to merge into one. The crossing – for pedestrians and cyclists – was built just yards from a footbridge crossing the same road.

Councillor Nutting said: "It has been hard work to achieve this and it has been a battle against officers at times, but I am glad common sense has prevailed."

The refuge was installed as part of a £1.8 million project to improve cycle and walking routes between the town centre and the north west of Shrewsbury and was paid for through grants from the Department of Transport. But Councillor Nutting said there was little evidence of what the money had been used for. He said: "It is hard to say where the money was spent. At the end of the day it doesn't matter where it came from – it is a lot of public money."

The refuge is likely to be removed through single carriageway closures over two to three evenings.

Shropshire Council was unavailable for comment. However, in a letter to councillors, Tim Sneddon, environmental maintenance service manager at Shropshire Council, said the decision had been made to ease the flow of traffic on Smithfield Road.

He said: "Works have been done looking at traffic flows and congestion and whilst there are advantages of a refuge there, it is felt that it would be better to remove it."