Traffic lights bid for Oswestry town centre crossroads

Shropshire Council has included a scheme for signals at the Salop Road/Middleton Road junction for consideration for funding in the 2016/2017 roads budget.

Highways officers are waiting to hear if it will be included in the coming year's programme. On Wednesday (APR 6) Oswestry Town Council will debate a report on traffic problems in the town.

The authority called for traffic lights at the junction several years ago. But the matter was put on hold because of a planning application to build on the nearby Central car park. Permission was refused.

In a letter to Oswestry Town Council, Shropshire Council highways officer David Gradwell confirmed that the scheme was put forward for funding for this year.

"I presume it will need to be considered for capital funding via Shropshire Council's road safety policy process," he said.

Councillors say they remain fully supportive of the installation of lights.

They have also called for a look at several problem spots in the town caused by parking including Morda Road by the Marches School, Welsh Walls and Jennings Road.

David Preston, clerk of Oswestry Town Council, said: "Councillors have voiced concern at the number of parked cars on narrow pavements and junctions around the town and residential areas.

"These present difficulties for residents with guide dogs, pushchairs and mobility scooters. We would like to work with the local police to see if some form of monitoring/enforcement could take place as a priority."

They want Shropshire Council to look at the speed of vehicles on Oakhurst Road, Castle Street, Edward Street, Cabine Lane and Upper Brook Street.

Councillors have also called on Shropshire Council to paint a box junction in Beatrice Street by the filling station following serious concerns about the amount of vehicles who queue on the road to get into the site.