Business chiefs back Shrewsbury North West Relief Road despite 1,000 negative comments
Business leaders have thrown their support behind the £87 million Shrewsbury North West Relief Road, despite vocal opposition from environmental campaigners.
The deadline for Salopians to have their say on the planning application for the four-mile stretch of road, which would run from the Churncote roundabout to Battlefield, is next Tuesday, April 27.
So far, more than 1,000 negative comments have been submitted, but Shrewsbury Business Chamber is fully behind the plans.
A spokesman said: “We have campaigned for this road for many years as we believe its construction will bring considerable environmental, commercial and transport benefits for the town and its hinterland.
“It will reduce vehicular traffic from the town centre and approach roads, as well as from the villages on the west side of Shrewsbury.
"The new link between Shrewsbury’s employment areas of Oxon and Battlefield business parks, and from Oswestry and Mid-Wales to north Shrewsbury and the A41/A49 will help to maintain the town’s historic position as a commercial centre serving the wider Border Counties area.
“Shrewsbury has an ageing population increasingly dependent on social services. It is important that there is a strong local employment base to fund this. Employment areas require appropriate support infrastructure.
“Moreover, changing employment and retailing trends – accelerated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic – have resulted in a large increase in demand for light industrial and storage and distribution space to accommodate the requirements of home working and shopping.
'Pleasant'
"The Relief Road will help to manage traffic around the town and into/from Mid Wales by courier companies and similar concerns.”
He added: “The road can be linked to other projects including railway halt stations at Battlefield and Baschurch, and flood alleviation works in the Berwick and Alkmund Park areas.
"Immediate objectives could include a more pleasant pedestrian and cycling access into the town centre as a result of less cross town car traffic, and greater use of Park & Ride.
“Reducing the tailbacks in and around the town will lead to greater flexibility to implement improvements in the Smithfield Road area, taking into account the Big Town Plan.
"Individual business chamber members have concerns about some aspects of the proposal and they may make their own representations.
“As a Chamber we wish to see the Town thrive and the North West Relief Road has its part to play in this.”
Environmental campaigners believe the proposal flies in the face of the council’s declaration of a climate emergency, and the road would result in thousands of tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere, as well as ruining parts of the countryside.
To have your say on the road visit https://bit.ly/3tMefLm
