'It is an outrage' - Shropshire Council row over shock relief road report's publication mid-meeting

Around 45 minutes into this morning's full meeting of Shropshire Council, a press notice was sent out saying the full business case for the controversial North West Relief Road had been published.

The document is a vital part of the plan for the road - and is intended to persuade government to provide up to £150m which the council needs to build the road.

The business case has been repeatedly delayed in recent months and news of its publication came as Liberal Democrat Councillor David Vasmer was on his feet in the council chamber already questioning the Conservative administration over its handling of the road project.

As he raised the issue of the publication taking place during the meeting he branded the decision an 'outrage' and called for an explanation over the timing.

Councillor Vasmer said: "This is the sixth time the full business case as we have been told we would have it at council and it has been withdrawn.

"I think it is highly inappropriate for the full business case to be published while we are in session.

"I would like an explanation for why that decision was taken and why it was not shared with councillors before."

Councillor Dan Morris, the Conservative cabinet member in charge of highways, responded by saying: "With this publication now you have got a good chance to go through it and see what you like and what you don't like."

Councillor Roger Evans, the joint leader of the Lib Dems, also called for a point of order, asking the authority's chief executive, Andy Begley, to explain what he knew about the decision.

Responding Mr Begley said: "My understanding was it was to be published this morning."

Writing on social media, Lib Dem councillor Alex Wagner described the move as "completely outrageous".