Shropshire Star

500 HS2 lorries a day in Shropshire village

More than 500 lorries will pass through a village every day during the construction of HS2.

Published
Last updated
Woore at the junction of the A51 and A525. Picture: Google StreetView

The company building the high speed railway said the majority of construction HGVs will be travelling from the A51 and turning onto the A525 at Woore, near Market Drayton.

The construction traffic will be using the routes from 8am until 6pm weekdays and 8am until 1pm on Saturday.

At a meeting of Woore Parish Council held in Victory Hall, councillors said they would fight the plans, put banners up around the village and set up an action group.

A spokesman for HS2 said: “The peak of the construction activity will generate daily construction traffic flows of 274 HGVs northbound and 274 HGVs southbound on A51 London Road from A53 Newcastle Road to A525 Bar Hill.

“However the duration of this peak is proposed to be for two months with construction traffic flows reducing substantially outside of these two months for the remainder of the construction period.

“Abnormal loads or those that require a police escort may be delivered outside of core working hours, subject to the requirements and approval of the relevant authorities

“There will also be a number of HGV movements along A51 northbound and southbound, which will not turn onto A525.

“There will be no construction HGV traffic using the A525 in the direction of Audlem either from or to the A51.

“Temporary modifications to the junction of the A51 and A525 are proposed to allow construction vehicles to safely turn into, and out of, the junction. This will consist of temporary removal of street furniture.

“The detailed design of the highway modifications are to be approved by Shropshire County Council, if it is the will of Shropshire County Council for modifications to be retained, they can be made permanent.

“Along the A525, several temporary passing bays, nine in Shropshire, and some localised widening are proposed where the road is currently particularly narrow, to allow two HGVs to safely pass.

“These works are likely to be schedules as early works, to facilitate construction access and are therefore are likely to occur in the first quarter of 2021.

“We are not planning to use land near Woore for compounds, depots or for waste material.”

“The Woore proposals are designed to enhance safety for the community during construction of the railway.

“As we start to work on the detailed route design, we will be engaging with the local community and the parish council to address their concerns.”

A consultation on the plans will run until September 30 so councillors are urging residents to get involved.

Councillor Mike Cowey, vice chairman of Woore Parish Council, said: “About 550 trucks could come through our village every day for at least two months – but I expect it will last longer. It is an extreme volume of traffic. We have got major concerns about this. People need to be aware of the major impact it will have on our roads. This parish council strenuously objects to any HS2 activity through this village.”

“The clock is ticking and we need to let our voices be heard. We are also concerned about the impact on the businesses in the village, school children and environmental impact.

“Anyone who wants to join the action group and help fight the plans should contact the parish council.”

A public meeting about the plans will take place at Woore Victory Hall on August 11 at 7pm.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, Shropshire Council chiefs and representatives from the scheme will be attending.