Market Drayton ring road rethink sparks an appeal

Market Drayton still needs its long-awaited £2.5 million ring road to ease traffic problems and improve the town centre, a former councillor who campaigned for the project said today.

Roger Walker, who used to represent Market Drayton on the former Shropshire County Council, said he was dismayed that Shropshire Council members were now talking about shelving the plans.

Mr Walker was speaking after David Minnery, Shropshire Council member for Market Drayton West, called for a rethink on the scheme.

Councillor Minnery said support for the project appeared to have cooled, with residents showing indifference to plans submitted by the council for the road linking Phoenix Bank and Stafford Street. Money for the project was set aside to benefit Market Drayton after the former North Shropshire District Council sold off its council housing stock.

Now Mr Walker has leapt to the defence of the project, saying it will bring vital benefits to the area and that councillors had to fight hard to ring fence the cash for the town.

He said: "It is disappointing that after more than 30 years of support and campaigning, Shropshire councillors are now suggesting the Market Drayton phase three of the inner ring road is no longer required.

"Little has changed to make it any less of a priority now.

"It will still deliver the improvements in traffic flows, access to the town centre car parks and remove unnecessary town centre traffic.

"Failure to proceed with the ring road will mean these improvements will be lost forever."

See also:

• Market Drayton ring road plan now in doubt

• Views on Market Drayton ring road bid are mixed

• £2.5m Market Drayton ring road plan backed