Petition over roadworks at Shrewsbury's Meole Brace roundabout is dismissed by councillors

Local residents Chris and Gwen Stoddart had gathered the signatures in a bid to halt the work, which will see a road and cycle path cut through the roundabout from Oteley Road to Roman Road.

The petition was delivered to Shropshire Council at its full meeting today but councillors voted for no further action to be taken.

Mr Stoddart said: "We think the design is such it would be dangerous if the traffic lights failed because of the cut through road.

"There will be and a 50 per cent increase in traffic at Meole Brace roundabout.

"Drivers currently experience very little delay, with delays currently less than 10 seconds on average.

"With average 50 per cent increase in traffic, these delays will be cut by between three-and-a-half and five seconds.

"Spending millions of pounds to save extra seconds is hardly justified.

"Meole Brace roundabout is valued by the 4,500 petitioners as a scenic presence and a sanctuary for wildlife and vegetation."

Councillors sympathised with some of the concerns raised by the petition, including the perception that work should be done on the access areas to Meole Brace Retail Park instead.

Councillor Heather Kidd said: "We are a planning authority and we do have some control over private land.

"We did not take the opportunity to deal with access there. It is now deterring people from using the retail park."

Councillor Duncan Kerr said it appeared there had been a breakdown in communication between the council and residents during the early days of the proposals.

Simon Jones, portfolio holder for highways at Shropshire Council said: "I would say these issues have all been addressed in the past.

"There is nothing new in any of these issues.

"We have consulted properly and we have had public meetings. I have heard nothing new that makes me want to change my opinion."

Members of the council voted for no further action to be taken over the petition.