You may pass... under! Market Drayton cattle underpass given green light
A safety scheme to prevent a country road becoming a hazard for road users has been given the go ahead.
Plans to create a cattle underpass beneath the A529, near Market Drayton, to prevent muck and manure getting on the road has been backed by Shropshire Council.
The scheme, which has been put forward by Michael Cope of Park Farm, will mean his cows will no longer have to use the road when they are milked.
Last year a car travelling from Nantwich to Market Drayton ended up in a hedge after skidding on mud on the road.
Adderley Parish Council supported the application in principle, but did raise concerns about possible disruption on the A529 if it clashed with any other scheduled taking place on the road.
The scheme also won the backing of Lewis Jones who commutes to work on the road five days a week.
"The present arrangement of crossing cattle across the carriageway not only leaves behind slippery mud and slurry, but also creates lengthy queues of traffic which are often obscured from approaching motorists views due to the undulating and twisty nature of the road," he said.
"It is simply a matter of time before a serious road traffic accident occurs due to the rear-ending of a motorist waiting in a lengthy queue whilst cattle are crossed.
"It is commendable that the applicant has recognised the dangerous situation created by the current cattle crossing arrangement."
A report by Shropshire Council case officer Richard Denison said it will help make the road safer.
"The proposed underpass will provide a safe means of access to enable cattle to access the farm fields on the opposite side of the A529 road," the report said.
"The proposed design will not impact on the rural character of the local area and will not cause any impact on the adjacent residential property.
"The construction is considered acceptable and removing the cattle from crossing this busy stretch of road will improve highway safety."
Mr Cope currently milks a herd of about 300 cows, with the potential to increase the herd by another 50 in the near future.
A statement on behalf of the farmer says the farmland is split by the A529 and as such the cows have to cross the road up to four times a day for milking.
"This not only prolongs the duration of milking but means that the road is subject to the possibility of the cows fouling the road," the statement says.
"With the number of cows in the herd this can be quite considerable. Moreover muck and manure can be dragged off the road from the access track and gateways.
"The provision of a cattle underpass will mean that the farming operation will not impact on the local community and no animals will need to cross the road."
