Shropshire County Council has finally agreed – after a narrow vote – to ditch plans for congestion charging in Shrewsbury town centre.But it will still try to secure regional funding for the proposed £70 million north west relief road which it is claimed will reduce through traffic levels in the town.

The full council yesterday voted 22 to 19 in favour of a series of recommendations – to tell the Department for Transport that it will not be submitting a business case for road pricing, to approve a revised alignment of the relief road route, and take forward bids for regional funding.

There was one abstention.

Earlier Labour group leader, Alan Mosley, failed to persuade the council to agree an amendment that no further resources were spent on developing the road proposals until the outcome of an Environment Agency study was known,and after a public consultation to ascertain the level of public support.

The agency is looking at whether a new road could also incorporate a barrier to help prevent flooding in Shrewsbury.

Councillor Mosley it was going to cost £350,000 a year to continue developing the road plans but there was little chance of the scheme winning regional funding.

“Why don’t we knock this on the head now,” he said.

But Councillor Eileen Sandford said the relief road was vital for the north of Shrewsbury and the increasing number of industrial and retail businesses being established there.

Councillor Miles Kenny said new roads did not reduce traffic congestion.

The money, he said, would be better spent on developing alternatives to the motor car and a substantial investment in public transport.