Residents fears over rat run danger road near Oswestry

Hundreds of cars, vans and large lorries are driving along the narrow Weston Lane between Oswestry and Morda during the improvement work on the A483 Oswestry bypass at the Maesbury junction, despite signs banning the HGV traffic.

People living in the hamlet of Weston say not only are lorries ignoring the no access signs but motorists are driving too fast.

Last year the residents won their two-year fight to see the speed limit on the lane halved from 60mph to 30mph.

They had launched a petition, as well as carrying out traffic surveys on the road.

In April 2017 Shropshire Council confirmed money had been put aside in its capital programme for the change.

But 13 months on there is no sign of the speed limit being introduced.

One of the campaigners, Mrs Thelma Parker, said, the problems had got significantly worse since the roadworks on the nearby A483.

“We are trapped in our homes,” she said.

“We live in lovely countryside but we are all too scared to go for a walk on the lane, it is just too dangerous.

“Something dreadful is going to happen if we don’t get safety improvements.”

She said that several residents had had walls damaged since the Maesbury junction had been affected by the roadworks.

“Even a cone that had been put out to prevent damage to a wall was damaged,” she said.

“We were told last year that we would have a 30 mile an hour speed limit on Weston Lane but there has been no sign of it. It is a nonsense that this small, winding lane has a 60 mile an hour speed limit.”

“We have local amenities that are enjoyed by residents and a large number of visitors alike.

“We are keen to see this continue and with the Cambrian Railway’s plans to extend the line to Weston Wharf, we are likely to be welcoming many more visitors in the future.

“Let’s encourage people to use the train or walk to Stonehouse Brewery and Weston Pools clubhouse, rather than driving.

“In order to do this, we need to make Weston a much safer place.”