Wem bypass on the right road
A bypass for Wem has taken another step with town and rural councillors meeting up with the area's MP.
The Wem Relief Road is still some way from becoming reality, but funding packages are now being investigated. The town's mayor said the road had become a whole community issue.
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson met with representatives of Wem Town Council, Wem Rural Parish Council and Shropshire Council to discuss the results of recent surveys on the possibility of building a Wem Relief Road.
Councillor Edward Towers, Mayor of Wem Town, said “Yet again Owen Paterson made room in his busy schedule to discuss the prospect of a relief road for Wem.
"We were able to update him on the recent survey results from Town and Rural residents which are supportive of a relief road. Unfortunately, there is no national funding available at this time to build one but this mustn’t deter us from continuing with the project.”
Rural Parish Councillor, Tim Wilton-Morgan added: “We’ve taken advice from Shropshire Council and these projects take many years from idea to actual completion.
"Both Shropshire Council and Owen Paterson’s guidance of the stages we must go through was most helpful.”
The mayor said he was keen to move to the next stage.
“We now need to draw up ideas of where the relief road could go prior to consulting again with town and rural residents and businesses but first we need to find the funding for the draft plans. We have taken advice from Owen Paterson and Shropshire Council and will be exploring the potential funding sources they have identified.
"Our efforts over the next few months will be concentrated on seeking funding. Working with Wem Rural Parish Council on this project shows potential funders that this is a whole community issue.”
Mr Paterson said: "There is funding available for areas where a bypass would help not only residents but those who use the road to get from A to B. I will be bringing up the question of Wem being eligible for that funding with the roads minister. In their surveys both the town and rural parish councils have shown that residents want a bypass for the town."
