Extended M54 would put Shrewsbury on motorway map

The town's leaders today called on Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin to extend the M54 west of Telford and reclassify the A5 as motorway up to either Preston Island or Dobbies roundabout.

They say big investors are currently put off from expanding into Shrewsbury and creating jobs as towns such as Telford appear to have better transport links.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham, has written to the Transport Minster requesting a meeting to discuss reclassifying the stretch of A5 east of Shrewsbury to become additional junctions of the two-lane M54.

He said it was an important issue which needed addressing urgently and would bring "tangible benefit for minimal cost".

It comes just days after it was revealed that the £100 million North-West Relief Road scheme could be resurrected.

Mr Kawczynski said: "I have asked the transport minister to undertake an urgent analysis about upgrading that stretch of road from Dobbies Island into a motorway because I think the time has come to completely re-evaluate the status of the A5.

"A company from a foreign country will bring up a UK map and many only relocate and build a new factory or office if it's actually on a motorway network – so we want Shrewsbury to officially be on it."

Town Mayor Councillor Jon Tandy said: "There is no difference to the road at all.

"I will be working hard to get the road reclassified because big companies do look at things like being close to motorway links, and at the moment it appears that Shrewsbury doesn't have the same links that somewhere like Telford has.

"Getting this done would send a message out that Shrewsbury is very much open for business and quite frankly it makes a massive difference and could have a huge benefit on the economy in Shrewsbury."

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