Further delays to A road landslip repairs

Rainwater running off a nearby field damaged the bank in 2020

Work to repair an A road which partially collapsed almost four years ago has been further delayed by a council.

The A490 near Chirbury was damaged by heavy rain in February 2020 and temporary lights and concrete safety barriers were installed so the road could remain open in both directions.

Earlier this year, Shropshire Council told the BBC work would be completed by the start of 2024 at the latest.

But it has now pushed construction back several months.

Part of the steep bank along the southbound side of the A490 collapsed after rainwater ran off a nearby field during Storm Dennis.

The Conservative-led council previously said the project had faced delays because of the complexity of the repair and problems accessing an adjacent field.

Councillor Heather Kidd campaigned for several years to get the road fixed

Heather Kidd, Liberal Democrat councillor for Chirbury, said residents were unhappy it was taking so long to resolve.

"I get complaints from my residents about the traffic lights all the time", she said.

"It's become a total eyesore with smashed up cones and fly-tipping, while water pouring down the road from the gullies is dumping soil all over the place.

"We need to do something about the road before more of it goes."

Shropshire Council said engineering consultants had completed their investigations and were working on a detailed design.

It hoped construction work would finally get underway in late summer 2024.

The proposed diversion route during the work would see drivers sent through Newtown via the A483 and A489, adding more than 20 miles to some journeys.

But due to the "length of the diversion and logistical complexities" the council was in negotiations with a local farmer about constructing a temporary road diversion.

Both options would be explored side by side to avoid further delays, the council said.