Shropshire towns may net £100k for future roadworks

The money has been given to Shropshire Council by the National Grid after its work to fix a major gas pipe between Bridgnorth and Broseley overran by more than a month.

The scheme saw the B4373 closed until the end of October while the leaking pipe, which supplies more than 7,000 homes, was fixed. The work should have taken three weeks but overran, causing extended traffic chaos for those living in Broseley.

Claire Wild, cabinet member for highways, said the council planned to spend the money on the areas affected by the extended roadworks.

She said: "A figure of £100,000 has been agreed by National Grid Gas to be paid to Shropshire Council.

"This is as a result of recent works to replace a gas main on the B4373 south of Broseley overrunning their agreed reasonable period."

Ms Wild said the money had been released under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act, which states there is a "charge for occupation of the highway where works are unreasonably prolonged".

"This was the case with the works last year between Broseley and Bridgnorth," she said. "It is the intention for the money to be allocated to the local Highway Maintenance office and for that money to be spent on the local area."

Councillor Ian Pickles, Mayor of Broseley, said: "We hope to get some of the money spent in the local area as compensation for all those who were affected by the road closure.

"The diversions in place forced HGVs to come through Broseley because they could not pass through nearby Much Wenlock.

"Large vehicles also passed through the town centre, as well as school buses trying to get to William Brookes School, which left our town in an appalling position. That £100,000 needs to be spent on the roads in Broseley."

Mr Pickles said he also had major concerns about the impact stabilisation work on Ironbridge Gorge could have on the town's roads, as well as access problems for larger vehicles.