A5 and A483 roads shake-up is ‘progressing well’

A number of organisations and agencies have been meeting to discuss the improvements to the A5 around Oswestry, and the A483 leading into Wales.

The hope in the future is that the A5 could possibly be expanded to a dual carriageway and that the A483 in Llanymynech would get a bypass.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson said the fruition of those plans remains a long way away, but that a positive meeting was held recently between with the Highways Agency, Shropshire Council, Midlands Connect and other bodies.

Mr Paterson explained work is going on behind the scenes, as the project moves forward.

He said: “We had quite a big conference last week where things went well. We all met together, a number of agencies.

“Work is ongoing to establish the number of cars and traffic that use the road.

“The plans are still being put together, on both the A5 and A483 and these are plans that have had to begin from scratch.”

The Shropshire Star launched a campaign last year with a bid to dual the A5, while villagers in Llanymynech have long called for a bypass to be built in the village.

Earlier this week Mr Paterson said ‘an end to austerity in Britain’, announced by Theresa May earlier this week could offer a boost to securing funding for the road improvements.

The Conservative said he was also pleased that a redesign of the controversial Mile End Roundabout in Oswestry will take place.

The roundabout was redesigned only four years ago, at a cost of £4 million.

Mr Paterson said: “I welcome to new Mile End work, currently it just doesn’t work at all.”

The move was confirmed earlier this year when James Wildman, Highways England spokesman, said: “We’re investing in measures including traffic signals to improve safety and reduce queues at the Maesbury Road junction. After that work finishes we’ll carry out further improvements at the nearby Mile End roundabout.

“We’ll aim to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.”