Consultants deliver verdict on Shrewsbury relief road concerns – but remain silent on financial liability
Consultants have recommended that Shropshire Council agrees to the Environment Agency's demands over the North West Relief Road – although they remain silent on who should foot the bill if the work goes wrong.
This month will see Shropshire Council's northern planning committee hosting a special meeting, solely to decide on whether to approve planning conditions for the controversial Shrewsbury road.
The conditions are the final step in granting full planning permission for the project – although there are a number of other hurdles to be cleared before there are spades in the ground, not least the financing.
The committee actually approved the proposal for the road last October, but only on the caveat that officers draw up a series of conditions to address the concerns of the Environment Agency and Severn Trent before proceeding.
Both organisations have raised major concerns about the potential for construction work on a bridge included in the road to contaminate the source of Shrewsbury's water at Shelton.
They have also queried the workings of a drainage system on part of the route, with concerns that the water source could again be contaminated in the event of a crash where pollutants are spilled.
Now Shropshire Council's consultants Waterman have delivered their verdict on the approach the council should take ahead of the February 15 planning meeting.
