Candidates debate future of planned relief road

A hustings was held by BBC Radio Shropshire on Tuesday

An election candidate for Shrewsbury has said cancelling the four-mile bypass planned north of the town would be "an act of vandalism".

Conservative Daniel Kawczynski, who was first elected as MP there in 2005, has expressed concern a new government could retract an offer to fully-fund the North West Relief Road.

All other candidates standing in Shrewsbury oppose the road, including Labour's Julia Buckley.

Shrewsbury's prospective MPs shared their views in a BBC Radio Shropshire hustings on Tuesday, ahead of the 4 July vote.

The Conservative government announced last year it would fully-fund the project using money from scrapping the second phase of the HS2 railway.

But the general election was called before the full business case was submitted by Shropshire Council. As a result, an agreement has yet to be finalised.

The council secured an initial funding offer of £54m in 2019, but costs have since spiralled.

It is widely thought the road could cost between £150m and £200m.

Campaigners against the route say it would ruin the countryside and cost too much money to build, while those in favour say it would reduce traffic in the town centre and improve air quality.

Mike Streetly has been campaigning against the relief road

Campaign group Better Shrewsbury Transport is fundraising to pay for a judicial review after Shropshire Council granted planning permission last October.

"You cannot go towards net zero [emissions] with traffic growth," said Mike Streetly from the group.

"We have to completely turn around and move away from private cars into buses and cycling."

"The countryside will be destroyed by this road... it's just not worth the price," he added.

Roger Briers said the North West Relief Road would stop HGVs using rural roads

Some residents living in rural villages north of the town want the road built.

"The traffic that uses this area is just crazy," said Roger Briers, a resident of Fitz.

"All the people living on the rat run will be very keen to get it built.

"It seems the road is in doubt now the election's been called and we're really concerned," he added.

At the hustings, Labour's Julia Buckley said the £54m of government money secured in 2019 should be spent widening roundabouts and providing free electric buses.

Alex Wagner, the candidate for the Liberal Democrats, said the current proposal for the route was too expensive and ignored the need for more buses and cycling lanes.

Reform UK candidate Vic Applegate called for more investment in the current road network.

While Green Party candidate Julian Dean said investment in public transport should take priority over new roads.

English Democrat candidate Chris Bovill and independent James Gollins are also standing in the Shrewsbury constituency.

A full list of those standing is available here.