Plea for start on road over fears for lives

Civic leaders in Market Drayton are calling for work to a £1 million inner relief road to be brought forward "before someone is killed". Work is not due to start until next year.

Councillor Rob Bentley, Market Drayton Town Council member for south ward, said heavy vehicles struggle to get through the town and the ring road was desperately needed.

The project, to be funded with money from the sale of council housing by the former North Shropshire District Council, is due to get under way next year, with Shropshire Council highways bosses hoping to submit a planning application by April.

But Councillor Bentley said work needs to start much sooner and has vowed to lobby Shropshire Council for an earlier start date.

He added: "One of these days, with the amount of heavy traffic that goes through Market Drayton someone is going to get hurt, and what value can you put on a life?"

He added: "The sooner we can have the ring road, the better. It's been planned and allocated, the money is there, let's get on with it."

Martin Allard, Shropshire Council head of strategic highways and traffic, said: "We will be submitting a planning application in April 2010.

"This will enable us to design the relief road and carry out a public consultation, to ensure we get the right outcome for Market Drayton.

"Once the planning application has been considered we will be able to finalise a start date for the works."