Shrewsbury North West Relief Road plans approved

Protesters assembled outside the council's meeting on Tuesday afternoon

Plans for a controversial relief road in Shropshire have been given the green light by councillors.

Shropshire Council planning officers had recommended the approval of Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road.

It was formally approved with conditions earlier, which means planners will need to review the proposal over environmental factors.

Protesters had staged a demonstration as the meeting took place raising concerns over the road's impact.

The Environment Agency has also raised concerns about the single-carriageway from Churncote Roundabout to Ellesmere Road Roundabout.

The North West Relief Road will run from Churncote Roundabout to Ellesmere Road Roundabout

The project - first proposed in the mid-80s - has been earmarked for money saved by the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2, Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper said.

It was promised £54m in November 2019 but MP Daniel Kawczynski last year asked for another £30m amid claims of rising costs.

'Critical threat'

Councillor Dan Morris, cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said after the meeting he was relieved the right decision was made for Shropshire, while recognising some people would not support it.

He said the relief road would take away 50% of traffic running along Smithfield Road in the town.

Councillor Dan Morris said he understood not everyone supported the plans

Councillors expressed various views on the scheme at the meeting with some saying it contradicted the authority's aim of reducing emissions and prioritising sustainable transport as noise and traffic would increase.

Mr Kawczynski, a long-time supporter, told the meeting he was proud to have worked to secure the "massive investment" from the government and the road would bring huge economic benefits.

There was also a "silent majority" of residents who support the plans, he said.

Analysis

By Robert Trigg, BBC political reporter for Shropshire

Around 150 protesters gathered outside Shirehall ahead of the planning meeting. Some were there to campaign for better protection of the environment, others to raise concern about the low risk of Shrewsbury's drinking water being contaminated if construction went wrong.

Inside, we heard arguments for and against the road being built. One resident close to the proposed road spoke about the nine "irreplaceable veteran trees" which will be felled to make way for the carriageway, including the Darwin Oak, which has become a symbol of opposition.

Another spoke in favour, claiming villages are being used as rat runs as drivers look to avoid heading through the congested town centre.

The committee's decision to grant planning permission came as no surprise given the political make-up of its members and the fact it was recommended for approval.

The big surprise was that issues raised by the Environment Agency remain unresolved - mainly their concern that construction over a source protection zone poses a risk to drinking water.

The Environment Agency is a major consultee and it's hard to see the project reaching the construction stage without its approval.

Earlier, resident Heather Streetly, who is also a member of Better Shrewsbury Transport and joined the protest at Shirehall, said there was a "critical" threat to the town's water supply because of an island that would be built in the middle of a source protection zone for Shelton bore hole.

Development within the zone is not allowed according to council policies, she said, and the road's risk assessment posed a lot of uncertainty.

While she expected plans to be approved, she felt there would be grounds for an appeal.

Residents are concerned about the impact on the town's water supply

Mr Morris said Severn Trent were responsible for the water and there had been "literally hundreds of meetings" between planners and the water firm, but he was "100% confident" about water quality.

"We have to listen to the experts and hundreds of meetings have taken place and I'm very, very confident this is just part of the process and it works," he said.

However, he welcomed further scrutiny on the plans, he added.

The next stage will see the conditions worked out before the plans face further scrutiny and the procurement process starts ahead of the business case being finalised in mid-2024.

"We just look forward to making the road safer for the people Shrewsbury and Shropshire," he said.