Roadworks on A5 at Oswestry for giant turbines

Work has started to set up concrete "overrun" areas across the middle of the Mile End and Five Crosses roundabouts on the outskirts of Oswestry. It is being carried out overnight and a lane of each island is being coned off to ensure workers' safety.

It will help lorries carrying large parts for 17 turbines at Garreg Llwyd Hill windfarm.

The work, which will take about six nights to complete, comes less than two years after £4 million was spent remodelling Mile End roundabout, causing delays for motorists for several months while the changes were made.

Parish councillors in Llanymynech and Pant to the south of the town are so worried about the effect the convoys will have on their roads they are planning a site meeting on Friday.

Garreg Llwyd Hill windfarm will be built on the Black Mountain between Felindre and Llanbadarn Fynydd, after the Welsh Government granted planning permission.

Due to be operational by spring next year, the parts for the 17 turbines will be transported from Ellesmere Port along motorways to the A483 and then south into Shropshire and on to Powys.

Samantha Mayes, spokeswoman for Renewable Energy Systems which is behind the windfarm project, said: "Concreted overrun areas will be constructed which will allow the turbine component delivery vehicles to manoeuvre safely around the roundabouts on their journey south to site."

She said the construction work would run from Monday to Friday from 8pm to 6am, but said all work would cease for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Work is also on going on the A483 at Abermule to enable the convoy vehicles to pull off the A483 and allow traffic to pass.