Watch: Fire crews on blue lights stuck in traffic at Shrewsbury's controversial revamped gyratory
New footage shows the delays faced by emergency service crews using Shrewsbury's revamped station gyratory.
The road network at Castle Foregate, around Shrewsbury Railway Station, has undergone major changes in recent months, with millions of pounds spent on the project.
The chair of the Shropshire & Wrekin Fire Authority, Councillor David Minnery, warned last week that the changes were "putting lives at risk" with emergency service crews stuck in traffic jams.
His comments came during a meeting of Shropshire Council’s economy and environment overview and scrutiny committee.
Now video taken this morning (Tuesday) shows fire crews, with blue lights flashing, waiting more than two minutes to get through the gyratory.
Shrewsbury Fire Station is on St Michael's Street, only a short distance from the gyratory, with fire crews needing to use the junction to respond to emergencies in a large area of the town.
Reacting to the latest footage a spokesman for the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are aware of concerns from the public and videos circulating regarding the traffic around the gyratory.
"Please be assured we are working closely with our partners to address this, to ensure we maintain our attendance standards and be there when the public need us."
Following last week's scrutiny meeting Shropshire Council said that an independent safety review of the scheme would be carried out "as soon as possible".
Councillor Minnery had told the meeting that fire engines were finding the situation “untenable”.
“We are very disappointed at the lack of consultation on this,” he added.
The councillor said he had a recent conversation with a fire chief who told him that “he is still seriously concerned".
He added: “We have had instances where people and property have been put at risk.”
The committee was told that vehicles with blue lights have been using the cycle lane as a way of getting through.
Councillor Minnery said that this itself was not “not a solution” and could be a risk to cyclists who are hard of hearing or wearing headphones.
“It is totally unacceptable,” he added.
Asked about the issue Shropshire Council said it expects a task and finish group to report on the scheme by December's cabinet meeting.
Alex Wagner, deputy leader of Shropshire Council, said: “It’s clear that lessons must be learnt from the delivery of this scheme.
“At its meeting last Thursday, the council’s cross-party economy and environment scrutiny committee agreed that an independent safety review of the station gyratory scheme be carried out as soon as possible, and this review will include the impact of the work on the emergency services. Officers are already looking at commissioning this work and I look forward to reviewing its conclusions.
“The scrutiny committee also agreed to set up a rapid task and finish group to consider the scheme in detail. The group is set to meet in the next two weeks before reporting its findings and recommendations to cabinet on December 3.
“Meanwhile, I will be meeting with the fire service, alongside David Minnery, chair of the fire authority, to discuss their views and concerns. We work closely with the fire service and greatly appreciate the important work that they do.”
There has been widespread criticism of the overall scheme, including dismay over the introduction of a bus stop along the one remaining lane of traffic on Castle Foregate outside the railway station.
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