The North West Relief Road – here's what Shrewsbury's new MP thinks about the project

Mrs Buckley is arguing that the money already secured for the road – around £54m from the Department for Transport (DfT) – should be used on different projects.

She says the alternatives could reduce congestion for long-suffering residents, and unlock business growth, which is one of the Labour Government's key priorities.

It is worth considering the current status of the project, and the issues that still have to be resolved if it were to go ahead.

Firstly Shropshire Council, which wants to build the road, does not currently have enough money to pay for the project.

The road was previously estimated at costing around £80m, but those costs are now expected to have risen above £120m – leaving the council needing more money from the DfT before the project can go ahead.

Any decision on that funding will only be made after the council submits what is known as a 'full business case' to the government later this year.

That full business case can also only be submitted once the council has an agreement with Severn Trent and the Environment Agency over planning conditions that both organisations require for measures they have demanded to protect the source of Shrewsbury's water supply at Shelton.

Councillor Buckley's position is that the council should abandon the relief road project and submit a 'project change request' to the government, to request permission to spend the £54m on other projects.

Councillor Buckley's suggestions for alternative measures include improvements to roundabouts in the town, public transport, and some specific business rate relief plans for firms at Battlefield Enterprise Park.

Specifically they include widening the Battlefield Roundabout to increase capacity, along with improvements at the Sundorne Roundabout.

Another major idea is to improve the Dobbies Roundabout on the A5, potentially using a flyover, a tunnel, or other measures such as widening approach roads.

Mrs Buckley said she had met with local road construction specialists and discussed the issue, adding: "There are lots of different solutions on this."

The new Shrewsbury MP has also suggested using some of the money for 'soft measures', which she believes could also improve the congestion issues.

She has called for more buses – hopefully free and electric – to take workers to Battlefield Enterprise Park, as well as reduced business rates for firms at the enterprise park if they offer their staff flexible working, with the intention of cutting the number of people driving to the location.

She added that bus services need a wider overall improvement in the town irrespective of the discussions around the relief road or alternatives.

She said: "Most people feel they have to have a car because there are not enough buses, that has to be central for this.

"Let's get buses taking people to supermarkets, doctors' appointments, college. Let's make buses work for people so cars become second choice not first choice."

Mrs Buckley said she was not ideologically opposed to the relief road, but believes there are now better and quicker answers.

She said: "I just think the North West Relief Road is no longer the most effective solution to the problem residents are suffering."

She added: "I am not against roads, I am not for roads, we have to look at the problems Shrewsbury has and look at what is the best solution."

Mrs Buckley said that it is also important to consider what happens if the government does not stump up the extra money Shropshire Council requests for the road.

She said: "I listened to lots of people about the issue and what comes out is everyone in the north of the town is very stressed about congestion, but that the road as it stands is not necessarily the best solution for it and the main and the biggest problem is if that road cannot be funded we must not leave the people in the north, all those residents, with no solution to the major problems they have suffered with for 20 years."

She added: "I want to deliver a solution. I want a result that will reduce congestion and deliver substantial economic growth for our town."

The new MP said a solution is "more important than picking a side and continuing polarised views that won't get us anywhere".

She added: "People want action, they don't want another two years of arguing, they want to know what are we going to do to solve their problems – what can we afford, what is appropriate and can we do quite quickly in the next two years to solve their problems."