Fresh hope raised over village bypass near Oswestry
A village bypass has a good chance of getting the go-ahead with funding from a new government package, an MP has said.
Owen Paterson says radical new bypass funding using money ring fenced form road tax might make the Pant/Llanymynech bypass a reality.
People living in adjoining villages near Oswestry have been campaigning for more than 30 years for the A483 trunk road to be moved out of the narrow village streets.
Each time they have had hope that the bypass could materialise the plans have been dashed.
On Wednesday north Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, had talks with transport secretary, Chris Grayling.
He said there were very promising discussions on the future of a Pant/Llanymynech bypass.
Originally it was thought that only A-roads, maintained by local authorities would benefit from the new scheme.
Mr Paterson said "It appears that the money can be used to build bypasses where the main road goes straight through the middle of a town or village.
"That is certainly true for Pant and Llanymynech."
The minister may it very clear that it was vital that the Welsh Assembly was involved in any moves for a bypass as the A483 is a major north/south Welsh arterial road.
"I shall be urgently seeking talks with Welsh transport minister, Ken Skates, to see if we can push this forward. It is something that we have to grasp very quickly."
The £1 billion annual fund is being set up for councils to improve or replace the most important A-roads in England.
The radical funding plan forms part of a new Transport Investment Strategy to prioritise key local road schemes and rebalance the economy.
Central to proposals is the creation of national Major Road Network, created by combining Highways England’s 4,200 miles of strategic roads with 3,800 miles of council-controlled ‘A’ roads.
Priority will be given to council schemes that combat congestion and improve connections around towns and cities. Part of the cash will used as a bypass fund to alleviate the misery of lorries and through-traffic thundering through villages.
The money is expected to be ring-fenced from the near £6 billion raised annually from vehicle excise duty.
