Shropshire roads to get flashing speed signs

It follows claims of delays in rolling out the vehicle activated signs, which were bought from council funds earlier this year.

According to a councillor, they are still to be installed because of redundancies and cut backs, but that has been denied.

Roger Evans, Shropshire County Councillor for Longden ward near Shrewsbury, said: "It is embarrassing and frustrating that these signs haven't been installed yet. I understand that they are in store with the council but there do not appear to be any plans to install them as yet.

"These are designed to save lives and should be put up as quickly as possible. But there aren't enough highway workers employed by the council now to do all the work that needs doing.

"Those who wanted redundancy got it – without thought of how this was going to leave resources. Now they are having to get electricians from out of the county to do the work. They have demands on them where they come from so they don't get down here. It is incredibly frustrating."

But Claire Wild, Shropshire Council cabinet member for highways, said: "The 20 vehicle activated speed signs (VAS signs) Councillor Evans refers to are the sum total of VAS signs ordered by the council for the council's Road Safety Policy. All of these have been allocated to various sites and are either already on site or due to be erected by our contractors, Imtech.

"Redundancies at Shropshire Council have played no part in the timetabling of the VAS signs installations as the work is contracted out to Imtech. This forms part of a their wider contract with the council which dates back to 2010 – far before any redundancies in recent months – and we are pleased with the work Imtech have done on our behalf throughout their contract."

Two of the signs are to be installed in Ford on the A458, one is to be put in Annscroft and another has already been installed in Longden, but, it is claimed, in the wrong spot. Other signs have been earmarked for other county sites.

Callum McLagan, spokesman for Shropshire Council, added that the signs had been allocated to sites, but would be put on site according to the time tabling of the contractors. "The signs were ordered earlier this year and delivered in the middle of the year," he said. "There are 20 on hold which have been allocated."

Neil Evans, chairman of Longden Parish Council said: "There are a couple of stretches of road here which need speed signs on. The signs were bought last year. We had one fitted, but in the wrong place and nothing has happened since with the others."

Mr Evans said at present, villagers were being urged to park their cars along the village's verges to slow cars down. "It does work," he said. "Cars do slow down but it isn't ideal."