Shifnal villagers toast end to vital roadworks

Residents in a village near Shifnal are celebrating after a main link road was reopened following nine weeks of repair work.

Vital supports have been added to a dam underneath Mill Road in Badger – much to the relief of villagers.

They had endured weeks of road chaos while the job was completed but cut a red ribbon recently and enjoyed champagne and mince pies to celebrate the end of the job.

The road had been closed for nine weeks to rebuild the dam on the county boundary, causing diversions via Beckbury along narrow country lanes.

The Victorian structure started to crumble a year or two ago as a result of its age and the weight of the extra wide agricultural vehicles getting very close to the wall.

Urgent action was needed to prevent the road slipping into the mill pond.

The county boundary goes through the middle of the dam and Shropshire Council agreed to share the cost of rebuilding with South Staffordshire Council.

Work started in October and problems soon appeared with the original foundations which meant that it was a bigger job than had been expected. With severe weather warnings forecast, the people using the road feared that it might take a lot longer than was scheduled, but it was still finished on time.

Terry Lipscombe, chairman of Badger Parish Council, said: "The side was beginning to slip away and some of the agricultural vehicles were getting perilously close to the edge."

He added: "Everyone is pleased to be able to use the road again. The contractors have done a first rate job.

"They have built a new dam which should last longer than the original one. It is nice to see the mill pond full again. It had to be drained for the work to be carried out."