Dual the A5 campaign: Shrewsbury MP backs Shropshire Star petition
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has thrown his weight behind the Shropshire Star's campaign calling for the dualling of the A5 which cuts through the county.
Daniel Kawczynski believes the road is far too dangerous and safety issues need to be addressed.
He is asking the Government to incorporate the project in to its long-term road investment plan.
The Shropshire Star is calling on roads minister, John Hayes, to include the A5 between Montford Bridge, north of Shrewsbury, and the Welsh border at Chirk in the Government's national roads strategy and upgrade it to a dual carriageway.
Click here to sign the petition to dual the A5
With the exception of the Nesscliffe bypass, it is the only section of single carriageway road between Dover and Holyhead, a key strategic route linking the UK to Ireland.
Since the Dual It petition was launched this week, it has attracted more than 3,000 signatures.
It has the support of businessmen, council leaders and hospital bosses as well as that of MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson, who has been vocal in his desire to see the road dualled since he became entered Parliament in 1997.
He said it is an absolute priority to make the road a dual carriageway and, over the past 12 months has brought two ministers to the area, driving them the length of the single carriageway section so they could see the problems for themselves.
Adding his voice to the campaign Mr Kawczynski said: “Ever since I became an MP I have conveyed to the Government of the day how I and the people of Shrewsbury & Atcham feel about the dangers of this road only being a single carriageway.
"In all that time there has been a number of saddening deaths and dualling can prevent this happening in future and help make the road safer.
"My colleague Owen Paterson and I are pushing the Government to add the project to their long-term road investment plan.
"It is of course not all about the incredibly important safety aspect but also about the economy and congestion levels.
"Currently, the road is not fit for the amount of traffic that uses it, especially on bank holiday weekends when holidaymakers make their way to and from Wales.
"I would encourage constituents to back this campaign so that Owen and I have the strongest possible case to take to the Department for Transport.”
