Highways Agency bosses have refused permission for speed signs on a stretch of a dangerous Shropshire road – because there is no room, road safety campaigners claimed today.

Members of the A49 Safety Group said their request for visual activated signs either side of Dorrington, near Shrewsbury, had been turned down by the Government’s transport agency.

The group said they could not understand the decision as the agency pulled down a number of road signs during its recent £1 million road improvement works in the village.

Councillor Ted Clarke, who is secretary of the A49 Safety Group, said he had been told of the move during a meeting with Highways Agency chiefs.

He said: “There had been a request put in for visual activated speed warning signs either side of Dorrington.

“However, at a meeting I had with the Highways Agency, I was told that this was not going to be possible because there are already a number of signs up in the area,” he added.

“I was told by the agency that there are a number of signs telling motorists that the speed limit is 30mph and these are proving very successful.

“Apparently they are delighted with how motorists have reacted to these warning signs already and the speed of cars travelling through Dorrington has dropped since the works were carried out.”

But Councillor Clarke said the road was dangerous and he felt visual activated signs were still needed.

He said that he would be meeting again with the agency to discuss the matter further. “I am planning on meeting with them again to discuss the matter because lots of people are calling for them to be added,” he said.

“They have taken a number of signs down so you would think there would be plenty of room.”

Councillor Clarke added that problems which hit visual activated signs either side of Bayston Hill were now resolved.

A Highways Agency spokesperson said: “The Vehicle Activated Signs were due to be included in the improvement scheme at Dorrington, however there was no suitable location for the signs available. We will continue to assess potential locations for the signs as part of future works.”