Anger over decision to cancel Market Drayton ring road

The plans for Market Drayton town centre were shelved by Shropshire Council's ruling cabinet this week when members decided to sell off the land earmarked for the road.

But members of Market Drayton Town Council today hit out at the decision, labelling it 'short-sighted'.

They claim the road is needed to protect people's safety.

At the meeting, cabinet members said the land was surplus to requirements but they were staying tight-lipped about how much of the project's overall budget would go back into Market Drayton.

Town councillor Janet Smith said: "This is just another example of the council's wasteful nature.

"I think it is the wrong decision and it is very short- sighted.

"Phase one was started 30 years ago and if we hadn't done phase one and two when we did Drayton wouldn't be able to cope with the capacity we have now.

"As a growing and developing town we are poor on infrastructure.

"Shropshire Council already has a responsibility for housing development so as far as the funding goes they have already spent it on preparation.

"The money came from the sale of council houses, therefore there has always been an assumption that Market Drayton would benefit from it."

Councillor Rob Bentley added: "I'm 100 per cent sure this is not the right decision.

"We have a beautiful historic town that is being wrecked by big lorries going through it.

"There is a danger for pupils from Grove School and senior citizens crossing the road that is atrocious."

A report to this week's meeting contained no figures, saying only that 'an agreed sum from the receipts from the sale of the land will be ring fenced to allow for future decisions to be taken to support regeneration in Market Drayton'.