'We are not sufficiently reassured!' Environment Agency's intervention over North West Relief Road
Efforts to secure planning permission for the North West Relief Road have been thrown into chaos after the Environment Agency told Shropshire Council not to approve the scheme.
In a significant intervention over the controversial Shrewsbury road the Environment Agency (EA) said it is not confident over the council's plans – specifically the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the work.
The letter, from planning specialist Mark Davies, states: "We are not sufficiently reassured at this stage based on matters that need more detail and advise that the EIA needs to be robust, and risks/mitigation fully explored. We would not advise you to grant planning permission, subject to planning conditions, at this time."
The issue centres on the EA's worries about the potential for major drilling work at Shelton Rough, which is needed to build a bridge as part of the road, to contaminate Shrewsbury's drinking water.
The agency is also worried about the possibility of a chemical spill from an accident on the road's roundabouts – and subsequent contamination of water supplies.
The EA had outlined the concerns in May year, with Shropshire Council's consultants WSP, replying in June – saying no changes would be made.
