Group pushes for review of Oswestry town centre roads
A "long overdue" shake-up of town centre roads in Oswestry could be held subject to completion of a review.
Members of Oswestry Townscape and Transport Forum have been in talks and are looking to get the ball rolling so town centre roads are looked at by infrastructure and business services group Mouchel in a bid to determine Oswestry's "hotspots".
Councillor Chris Schofield, also chairman of the forum, said they are trying to "get things" moving by getting a brief together to see what can be done.
"It's been over 10 years since Oswestry has been looked at, so it's long overdue, and this review is just a small part but it will hopefully pick up some of the town's hotspots. We're just trying to get something done, it won't cure everything but certainly the ball is moving," said Councillor Schofield.
"Traffic has certainly increased over the past decade, and of course we've got to consider the now but also what could come."
Councillor Schofield said one of the town's hotspots was Gobowen Road.
He said: "With Gobowen Road being one of our hotspots, you have to consider if Oswestry does get an urgent care centre, which is certainly needed, there will be an increase in traffic on that road."
Currently Oswestry Town Council, Shropshire Council, and Oswestry Chamber of Commerce have managed to commission £15,000 to help fund the review.
He said: "We're just interested in getting the right people around the table and going from there."
Oswestry Townscape and Transport Forum includes members of the public, as well as town and county councillors, and members of Oswestry Chamber of Commerce.
At the group's preview meeting, they were also informed on future links to external funding and key funding included Community Infrastructure Levy and inclusions to the Road Safety Programme at Shropshire Council.
Members were also told a strategy document would be necessary in order to access non-council funding and could provide a basis for gaining Marches Local Enterprise Partnership funding.
Further discussions are set to take place sometime next month when Oswestry Townscape and Transport Forum will next meet.
