Protest at meeting over town's new relief road

Protestors gathered outside the council building with placards and bottled water

Protestors opposed to Shrewsbury's controversial North West Relief Road have been handing out bottled water to councillors attending a planning meeting to discuss the scheme.

The project was given the green light in October, but councillors had requested a final say on 63 conditions attached to it.

They voted 6-5 in favour of the proposed conditions at Thursday's meeting, with Conservative councillors on the planning committee voting in favour and other parties voting against.

Campaigners against the road say it risks the town’s water supply and that the scheme’s benefits don’t add up.

Campaigners handed out bottled water to councillors going into the meeting

The project was first proposed in the 1980s as a means of easing congestion in the town centre.

Frank Oldaker, a co-ordinator with Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth, does not think the new road is needed.

He said: “The only reason for it really is, it looks logical on a map to complete a ring road.

“But when you get into what the supposed benefits are they just don’t set up. We don’t need another road in the north west of Shrewsbury.”

Some protestors stood outside Thursday's planning committee meeting, and handed councillors bottled water as they went in.

Those opposed to the scheme believe the new road is not necessary

Campaigner Heather Streetly is a hydrogeologist and spoke about the “risk to the water source”.

She said: “I just wanted to draw the councillors’ attention to the risk to Shrewsbury’s water supply from the Shelton borehole, close to where they’re planning to build a very large roundabout.”

She added: “The council hasn’t got any money, they can’t afford to take this risk. Our water supply is fundamental to our wellbeing.”

Protestor Jill Davis added: “I’m also concerned about the trees. We have the 550-year-old Darwin Oak.

“The petition has reached over 100,000, not to cut this tree which is a complete habitat of all insects. It increases biodiversity.”

Shropshire Council said the new road would help relieve traffic congestion in the town centre and prevent HGVs going through neighbouring villages.

The authority said the ring road would also bring about improved air quality in Shrewsbury and help provide a boost for the county’s economy.