Shropshire Star

Roadworks hit businesses as blocked access route 'cuts off' village

A village says it is has been cut off and forgotten during months of roadworks designed to improve a nearby trunk road.

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The owner and head chef of the Navigation pub, Brent Ellis, left, and director of Unicorn Nursery Louise Willmore are unhappy

Residents say Maesbury has been cut off from nearby Oswestry because of work to install traffic lights on the staggered junction to the A483 on the edge of town.

Drivers face several miles of diversions or using a small lane, which residents say is being ruined by the constant traffic.

Mark Baggett and Brent Ellis, the licensees of the Navigation Inn at Maesbury Marsh, said this has been the third time in 14 years that their business has been affected by roadworks or flooding.

Roadworks on the A483 at Oswestry with the junction of Maesbury Road

Mr Ellis said residents were pleased that improvement work was being carried out on the A483 junction – but that more thought should have been given to how those living on the Maesbury road could have been helped.

He said business people in the village feel as if they have been left in the lurch or forgotten about.

“It feels like no one thought about us,” he said.

Chain Lane is said to have deteriorated with the increased traffic

“It has been an absolute nightmare for local businesses and for residents since the road was closed in March.

“There was no consultation over the impact that completely shutting the junction to the Maesbury road would have.”

Drivers wanting to reach Oswestry from the village have to either travel south to get on to the A5 or use one of the network of small lanes that emerge further south on the A483 or Chain Lane, which joins the A5 at Aston.

Damage

“Everyone is getting pretty fed up and the damage there has been to Chain Lane has to be seen to be believed.

“There are big pot holes and the verges are cut up from the sheer weight of traffic constantly using it.

“It is not only cars going up what is usually a little-used route but buses and delivery vans and agricultural traffic.

“Although the local county councillor has helped us to ensure the road has been cleaned, the general decay of the road surface is very worrying.

“We have loyal customers but they really are getting fed up of the diversions and we are not picking up the passing trade.”

Impact on nursery

Louise Willmore, owner of the Unicorn Nursery, said some parents had postponed enrolling their children until after the roadworks.

“We currently have 30 on roll and are expecting a big intake in September,” she said.

“I can understand that the improvements were needed and that the junction will be much better in the long run.

"But I don’t see why the Maesbury road had to be completely closed for the duration of the works.

“After we approached our councillors there were diversion signs put in place but even with these some of our parents have been getting lost.”

She said that with the lanes around Maesbury choked with traffic queues at peak times were dreadful.

“Sometimes our parents can be sitting waiting in queues for the crossroads for up to 30 minutes. It means they are having to leave home much earlier with their children in the mornings,” she added.

“Chain Lane is ruined and is going to have to be resurfaced.”

Finished for summer?

The Highways Agency said it hoped the work would be finished before the summer holidays.

A spokesman said: “We’re improving the layout of the junction and installing traffic signals to smooth the flow of traffic, reduce queuing on either side of the A483 and improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists.

"An additional lane will be added in both the north and southbound directions and street lighting will also be upgraded. There will also be drainage work to prevent flooding.

“After works are finished at Maesbury, we’ll be widening the approach to the roundabout from Wrexham. We’ll also be renewing the road markings and reviewing signage.

“We are on course to finish the work before the summer holidays.”