Theresa May says funding for Shrewsbury relief road is being assessed

Theresa May says that the Department for Transport is assessing an application for funding which would allow more detailed development work on a North West Relief Road for Shrewsbury.

An announcement on whether the bid, submitted by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, is successful, will be be announced later this year.

Mrs May's letter to Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski stated: "I am pleased to confirm that the Department for Transport is considering the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership's application to the Large Major Schemes funding round.

"The bid process has given them the opportunity to outline the case for the scheme, which will be fully considered. I understand that the announcement of successful bidders is expected later this year."

Mr Kawczynski said he was pleased the bid had been submitted and hoped that it would be given the green light.

He said: "For me there is no doubt about it, which is why I wrote to the Prime Minster. The North West Relief Road is crucial in terms of ensuring that we have efficient transport facilities to continue with the growth of Shrewsbury."

Mr Kawczynski said he had also been heartened that other areas covered by the LEP, Telford and Herefordshire, are supportive.

He said: "I think the LEP is coming into its own now and I am delighted that there is such collaborative work between Shropshire, Telford, and Herefordshire, and delighted that these other parts of the LEP agree that the North West Relief Road is a key priority, it is not just us in Shrewsbury."

The project has been a talking point in the town for decades and the previous plan was dropped in 2011. But it has been revived in recent months.

Transport minister Andrew Jones visited Shrewsbury and has said there is a large cost-benefit ratio to the relief road and there there would be a good return on investment.