Road bid land buy-back offer

Land bought by council highways officials as a possible route for the controversial £60 million North West Relief Road has been offered for sale back to its original owners, it was revealed today.

The four acres of land spread between Brackley Drive, Ingleby Way and a plot close to the Shelton traffic lights, was bought by Shropshire County Council in 1994 when officials began to progress ideas for the road.

But it is no longer required after the council whittled down its possible routes from six to three, before finally settling on the preferred “Black Route” in January last year.

The chosen route runs for nearly four miles from the A5 bypass at the Churncote roundabout to the western end of the Battlefield Link Road.

SCC says it is in negotiations to sell the land with the previous owners but has refused to disclose their identity, how much the land was bought for and how much it will be sold for now.

Joe Kwaterski, of Brackley Drive, said he had noticed surveyors using theodolites and other equipment to measure the land.

He said he had fears the land, which is used by the community for walking and by youngsters to play sports, would be used for housing development.

Council communications officer Gareth Proffitt said: “The land was acquired by Shropshire County Council several years ago as a possible route for the planned North West Relief Road.

“As the road would no longer take this route the land is no longer required by the council, and we are in negotiations with the previous owners about selling the land back to them.

“We believe that the surveyors are working on behalf of the prospective owners.”

Mark Combes, managing director of The Severn Partnership, confirmed his company was carrying out surveying work.

But he said he could not disclose any further details because of client confidentiality.

Last month the county council’s economy and environment scrutiny panel voted in favour of the road’s development being classed as a priority in the Shropshire Local Transport Plan.

The council cabinet had previously agreed the move but its decision was “called in” for further examination amid concerns over the £6 million cost to date of developing plans.