Environmental campaigners have welcomed news that looming public funding cuts could put the brakes on plans for a controversial £100 million relief road around Shrewsbury.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust officials say they are keeping their fingers crossed that the planned North West Relief Road could now be thrown out altogether. It comes after it recently emerged Shropshire Council’s plans for the road could be scuppered.

The Department for Transport has deferred its consideration of the plans for a year as part of a wider squeeze on national spending.

Campaigners have welcomed the news, saying it could mean special wildlife habitats along the planned route could now be protected.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s director Colin Preston said: “A huge amount of money has been wasted on consultations and preparation for a road that would be deeply destructive and is not needed.

Countryside

“Let’s hope the result of the spending review is that the scheme is thrown out altogether.”

He added swathes of countryside on the north west edge of Shrewsbury could be lost if the road were to be built. He said species-rich hedgerows would be ripped out, veteran trees felled and valuable wetlands and wet pasture lost.

The proposed route of the road would take it near to, or through, at least five county wildlife sites as well as Hencott Pool, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Last week a row broke out between campaigners and Shropshire Council over an apparent delay in sharing news of the DfT’s decision.

Andy Boddington, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England Shropshire branch, claimed Shropshire Council withheld the news for nine working days while it pressed ahead with public consultation on the project.

But the council has said its hands were tied because of the general election, which prevented it from discussing national policy during the campaign.

Plans for the road were first mooted in the 1980s and at one stage included an Environment Agency dam to control flooding on the River Severn. It was to be built beneath the planned road, but has since been scrapped.

To find out more about the road visit www.shropshire.gov.uk

By Tom Johannsen