Councillors fear traffic problems over Shrewsbury retail park expansion
A planned expansion of Shrewsbury's Meole Brace Retail Park should not go ahead until congestion problems at the site are addressed, councillors have said.
Shrewsbury Town Council is to put in an official objection to proposals to build three new units next to the TK Maxx store.
Members of the town council's planning committee said they were concerned about the new shops adding to traffic problems on the retail park, as well as the potential impact of the new stores on existing town centre businesses.
Speaking at last night's meeting Councillor Anne Chebsey said: "The trouble with the retail park is getting on and getting off. It is bad every weekend."
Councillor Peter Nutting added: "We are at capacity now for traffic going in and out.
"Already on this site, we have given permission for an extra unit to be a supermarket and Sainsbury's has permission to increase. It is going to exacerbate an already difficult situation."
He said the location of the planned new units could prevent the building of an additional entrance or exit to the retail park to ease congestion problems in future.
Firms such as Subway, Greggs, Costa Coffee and Café Nero are understood to be in discussions about taking on some of the new units. The proposals are linked to plans to build a new supermarket on land currently occupied by Carphone Warehouse.
The supermarket plans were approved in July 2013, with the scheme due to create around 80 jobs. No announcement has been made on what retailer will move into the new supermarket or when work will begin.
A decision on the scheme is due to be made by Shropshire Council in December.
