Shirehall leaders approve Shropshire transport plans

Shirehall leaders have approved a provisional plan which sets out Shropshire's transport objectives and policies for the next 15 years.

Under the strategy Shropshire Council would "particularly support" safety improvements on the A49 that did not "negatively impact" on the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The authority would back dualling or partial dualling of the A5/A483 north of Shrewsbury.

It would also support junction improvements on the A5 Shrewsbury and Oswestry bypasses.

The strategy, covers such issues as economy and growth, tackling Shrewsbury's traffic problems, supporting sustainable tourism, rail services and maintaining roads in a safe condition.

The plan, presented to Shropshire Council's cabinet yesterday, says the council would support the Highways Agency, the M6 Toll Road operators and neighbouring authorities, in providing a new motorway standard link between the M54, M6 North and M6 Toll.

Back in the county, the strategy says the council will implement an integrated transport strategy for Shr- ewsbury as "funding opportunities" become available.

It adds: "We do not expect to promote full construction of the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road during the plan period, but we will ret- ain the ability to construct the road in future if necessary."

Turning to rail issues, the document says the council would particularly support line speed improvements on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury, and Chester to Shrewsbury routes, the electrification of the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line, the reinstatement of a direct service between Shr- ewsbury and London, and the provision of CCTV at stations where anti-social behaviour is a problem.

But a report to the cabinet revealed the council will see a big reduction in Government funding for transport and highway schemes over the next four years.

However Martin Taylor-Smith, cabinet member for transport, pledged the auth- ority would increase spending on transport, despite the cuts.

The report said integrated transport allocations from the Government were "very significantly reduced" with total funding for the council from this year to 2015 amounting to £7.4 million - 58 per cent lower than the £17.5 million received between 2006 and 2010.

Capital funding for highways maintenance from this year to 2015 would be £51.3 million, 13 per cent lower than the £58.9 million received over the last four years.

By Dave Morris