Shropshire Council roadworks communications under fire

A scrutiny group has said it wants residents to be better informed.

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

A task and finish group was formed, which analysed how the council carries out both routine roadworks and street works and major highways projects in Shrewsbury, and a report was produced with the findings and recommendations.

Councillor Gwilym Butler, a member of the task and finish group, told the performance management scrutiny committee yesterday: "We went to look at it and for a £12 million spend a actually had few complaints.

"The process is very tight and we have some very professional officers, but we've not advertised hardly at all the £12m investment.

"The communications process has been the weakest part.

"We suggested that all councillors are informed when there are severe roadworks not just the local councillor."

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.

The report produced by the task and finish group recommended that Shropshire Council develops proposals to better inform people about roadworks and street works in their area through opportunities provided by the Digital Transformation Programme, use social media to tell residents and elected members about roadworks and street works, including major projects such as SITP, make better use of barriers erected during SITP works to inform people of the project and the benefit it is likely to bring and communicate successes more effectively.

It adds: "The group believes that its work provides assurance that the council manages roadworks, street works and highways projects effectively.

"It has also explored the opportunities available to Shropshire Council to further develop its communications regarding roadworks and street works.

"The group’s recommendations could result in more timely and better-targeted information to people in Shropshire."