Market Drayton ring road plan now in doubt

Multi-million pound plans for a ring road in Market Drayton could be shelved after 30 years of talks, it emerged today.

A decision on the £2.5 million project, which includes a new road and 47 homes, was postponed by planners last month after applicant Shropshire Council asked for more time to consider details of the scheme.

Now councillors for the area want to review the project. Councillor David Minnery said if there was a groundswell of opinion aga-inst the ring road scheme, alternatives could now be looked at.

He said: "Do we still need to spend the money on a few hundred metres of asphalt when the town centre is crying out for investment?

Councillor Roger Hughes added: "Recently we've been picking up a distinct indifference to it, or even hostility, from people wondering if it is the best way to spend that much money."

About £1.6m of the budget remains unspent.

See also:

• Market Drayton ring road scheme is put on hold

• Views on Market Drayton ring road bid are mixed

• £2.5m Market Drayton ring road plan backed