Shropshire Star

Protesters return to Shrewsbury ahead of latest North West Relief Road meeting

Protesters opposing the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road scheme gathered outside Shirehall as councillors gathered to discuss the latest plans.

Published
Last updated

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

On Tuesday afternoon (January 21), dozens of protesters gathered outside Shirehall in Shrewsbury with signs and flags, as councillors met to discuss the revised plans for the North West Relief Road (NWRR).

The plans, which were approved last year, went back to Shropshire Council's Northern Planning Committee today after the council revealed that the road is likely to create nearly double the amount of carbon as previously expected. 

Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday
Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday. Photo: BeST

The increase means Shropshire Council is now saying that the project will take another 20 years to become 'carbon neutral', and has asked for a condition to be included that means it has until 2050 to offset the road's emissions.

According to case officer Mike Davies, the rise in carbon emissions from the new road means that it will be ‘impossible’ for the council to achieve its target of being carbon neutral by 2030.

Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday
Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday. Photo: BeST

Mike Streetly from Better Shrewsbury Transport (BeST) said: "Shropshire Council promised residents that the North West Relief Road would help the council achieve its climate goals by reducing emissions. Now we’re told that isn’t true. 

"The NWRR won’t do anything to solve the climate and nature crisis or traffic congestion. It will make everything worse – while threatening the safety of our drinking water and plunging the council into bankruptcy. 

Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday
Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday. Photo: BeST

"This project is spiralling out of control. The cost has jumped from £80m to £170m (with only £54m committed by the Government), while the lifetime carbon emissions are now over 100,000 tonnes according to our calculations. If the planning committee is impartial and evidence-led, they will have no choice but to reject this disastrous road. 

Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday
Protesters outside Shirehall on Tuesday. Photo: BeST

"The NWRR simply cannot be squared with the council’s climate emergency declaration of 2019 and the UK’s net zero strategy. If the planning committee doesn’t stop the road, we expect the courts will."