Chiefs defend timing of Wem roadworks

Shropshire Council says the works taking place in Wem have been organised to avoid summer events and the Christmas shopping season.

It comes after Liz Dakin, headteacher at Thomas Adams School in Lowe Hill Road, said the school is effectively being surrounded by road closures and delays. She is concerned that three separate sets of roadworks, which include road resurfacing works, are impacting on children there.

There is currently work taking place in Wem town centre on gas mains while the Shawbury Road towards Shrewsbury has also been closed for resurfacing but work has now finished. This week Ellesmere Road is also being closed for resurfacing.

But Gary Parton, Shropshire Council's highways engineer, said: "Wem and the surrounding area has seen significant roadworks take place over the last couple of months, some of them involving short term road closures and temporary traffic diversions for improvements and resurfacing to the highway, and some to replace old gas mains in the town.

"The work has been co-ordinated so they avoid summer events in the town and can be completed before the Christmas shopping season."

Mrs Dakin said her main concerns are students getting to school on time, attendance at upcoming open days and the school production from October 15 to 17.

Councillor John Murray, mayor of Wem, said he appreciated works were having an impact on traffic, but they were essential.