Vital Shropshire road to close for five weeks
A major road needed to access a town in north Shropshire is set to be closed for more than five weeks for essential drainage and resurfacing works.
The work will take place along Soulton Road, Wem, from February 16 to March 27.
Work is set to take place from just beyond the entrance to Lower Lacon Caravan Park to the junction for Lacon Hall.
Councillors from Wem Rural Parish Council have met with Shropshire Council and its partner Mouchel to warn of the disruption that will be created and to request alternative plans.
But they were told that the whole road had to be closed because the width of it would not allow enough space to close half of it and leave remaining room for the workforce to work safely.
Councillor Mandy Meakin, mayor of Wem, said the work would have a major impact on traffic, but the public understands why it is needed.
"I think it will have quite an impact. It could cut that end of Wem off and people will have to go all away round," she said.
"They want to build extra houses so they have to improve the drainage. We have just got to put up with it."
Last year Wem faced weeks of disruption while a major scheme to carry out gas works was carried out.
Wales & West Utilities (WWU) upgraded the gas network in parts of the town centre to improve services for users.
Councillor Meakin said: "I appreciate something has to be done to the road, just like the gas works had to be done even though it caused disruption in the High Street."
Last week two motorists were described as being lucky not to be seriously injured following a crash between a van and lorry on Soulton Road.
It left the drivers, a man in his 20s and a man in his 50s, requiring hospital treatment for minor injuries.
It also caused the road to be closed, leading to delays and heavy traffic in both directions between the Aston Road junction and the Church Lane junction.
"I don't think anybody will be pleased by the disruption. It is a busy and dangerous road, as seen by the accident there last week," Councillor Meakin added.
Councillor Peter Broomhall, of Wem Rural Parish Council, said the council was unhappy with the road closure, but hoped it would solve the problem with drainage.
Shropshire Council was unavailable for a comment.
