Shropshire Council chief sees red in Shrewsbury traffic lights row

Councillor Keith Barrow wants the Highways Agency to reconsider its plans.

Work at the roundabout, and the nearby Emstrey Island, is due to start on Monday and is scheduled to be completed by December.

It is claimed the scheme, costing £8.4 million in total, will help ease congestion and improve traffic flow around the two landmark roundabouts.

But Councillor Barrow said: "I think traffic lights on the island are a ludicrous idea and I will be writing to the Highways Agency asking them to reconsider.

"It is good they are spending money on the roundabout but surely a slip road or wider lanes would be better than lights. They are try to fix a problem that does not exist and I am confused as to why they think this is a good idea. I have asked many people about this over the past few days and everyone is of the same opinion, traffic lights are just not the solution.

"Admittedly it was not a particularly scientific way of gathering information but it did show what people feel on this matter.

"I travel on that road frequently and very rarely do I experience delays or congestion. Certainly from Oswestry and Shrewsbury the flow of traffic is good, cars tend to filter on to the roundabout. From the Whitchurch direction there is sometimes a hold up but even that is never too bad.

"I will be writing to the Highways Agency as a matter of urgency asking them to reconsider. I was unaware of the plan for lights until I read about it in the paper. Whether we can change their minds at this late stage is another matter but it is worth a try."

Motorists have said the plans to rip up the roundabout at the end of Shropshire's A5 are a waste of money.

The Preston Boats roundabout is a landmark for thousands of motorists who travel towards Shrewsbury from Telford along the dual carriageway.

The work is part of a "national pinch point programme" which was announced during the Chancellor's Autumn Statement in November 2011.

George Osborne said the work formed part of an initiative to help business by reducing congestion.

Announcing the work Highways Agency Project Manager, Jess Kenny, said: "These are two very busy islands and these improvements will really make a difference to drivers' journeys, easing congestion especially at peak times, which can only help the local economy.

"To minimise disruption, we will carry out the majority of the work with lane closures at night, but some full closures will also be needed between the hours of 7pm and 7am. I advise people to leave longer for their journeys as diversions will be necessary at times and reduced speed limits will be in place to protect workers and the public."

Preston Boats island will be totally redesigned replacing the current roundabout with a junction and traffic lights and Emstrey island will benefit from several approaches being widened and widening of the island itself to provide three lanes with traffic lights.