Cash being poured into roads budget
More money than every before is being spend on improving Shropshire's road network and cutting pollution levels.
More than £12 million is being spend in Shrewsbury with more in other market towns and the prospect of the Shrewsbury north west relief road on the horizon.
Roadworks in areas across the county came under fire at a meeting of Shropshire Council on Thursday.
Some councillors claimed that Shrewsbury was at a standstill because of the amount of highway work with the improvements to the Meole Brace island described as shambolic.
Others defended the projects saying Shropshire had levered in much needed funding to improve transport links.
Councillor Tony Parsons said: "The Meole Brace roundabout changes are shambolic. The cut-through on the island has not improved traffic problems with cars backed up to the Longden Road traffic island and along Hazeldine Way and Pritchard Way. The town is at a standstill."
His views were shared by Councillor Roger Evans who said: "Shrewsbury is a mess and so is Bridgnorth."
Councillor Peter Adams defended the roadworks.
"Shrewsbury has not come to a standstill, in fact the journey time in the town centre, from Chester Road to Frankwell has reduced by four and a half minutes because of the work we are doing.
"Our Highways department has become exceptional in bringing in more money for improvements. This is the largest investment in Highways undertaken by the council."
Councillor Adams said that money for the work had come from LEP, the Local Enterprise Partnership, and from CIL money paid by developers.
"The Shrewsbury Integrated Transport plan has secured £12.1 million of external investment in the town."
There had also been government funding.
"Shropshire had such a good track record on mending pot holes that the Government gave us an extra £1.2million to carry on the work."
He said the council had no alternative but to carry out much of the improvement work quickly.
"When we get LEP money they put a time limit on it. It is free money and we don't intend to lose it."
He said that about 20 years ago Shropshire started to slip in its roadworks spending programme but that two years ago that decline stopped and was now on the up.
He said that the improvements were having a big effect on Shropshire's air quality.
"There were 12 areas in Shropshire over government air pollution levels. There is now just the stretch of road in Chester Street in Shrewsbury under the bridge to the Station hotel," he said.
Portfolio holder, Councillor Steve Davenport said he used the Meole Brace roundabout to reach Shirehall and said the improvements made traffic flow better.
