Taskforce to scrutinise Shrewsbury's roadworks

Shrewsbury Town Council's leader Alan Mosley called for urgent action to be taken over the issues caused by successive roadworks.

Now Shropshire Council has set up a task and finish group to examine the way the work is planned and implemented, and the first meeting will be held "very soon".

Councillor Mosley said: "I requested that a task and finish group be set up and the officers have drawn up a serious of terms of reference for it that I was happy with.

"It's been set up and they have their first meeting coming up very soon.

"My main concern was that the roadworks in and around Shrewsbury is having such an impact on visitors and also residents in terms of confusion and congestion and this is not good for the town or for the people concerned.

"I want to have a proper rigorous review of the way in which the roadworks are planned, the way in which the roadworks take place and the overview of the process involved."

Traffic delays are likely in a number of areas in and around Shrewsbury in the coming days as road works were set to start.

Two-way traffic signals will be in place in Wenlock Road from today until June 9 as planned work begins.

Also, the Forton Farm junction to the B5067 junction at Leaton, Montford Bridge, will be closed from today until June 12.

Other works were set to begin across the area today in Hanwood Village, Shrewsbury Road in Hadnall, London Road, Sundorne Road, Bank Farm Road and Sutton Road.

In recent weeks Pride Hill is the latest area affected, and before that Wyle Cop which was hit by nine weeks of disruption.

All the work is being carried out as part of £12 million Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package (SITP) being completed by Shropshire Council.

The authority has argued that the work will improve traffic flow in the town.

Councillor Mosley added: "Works have been taking place in Shrewsbury that have a massive impact over the past two years, I'm concerned about the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Package, but also want to review the smaller utilities works.

"There has been a large number of complaints from businesses, from residents and from visitors about the time some of these works take and the way in which they've been planned.

"We can't undo what's been done but we can certainly look very closely into what has happened.

"Works have to take place, I'm not trying to stop them, but they ought to take place in a properly planned manner with the least possible inconvenience to businesses, residents and visitors and I want to ensure that is being done and will be done in the future."