Call for review over Shrewsbury roadworks ‘chaos’

Shrewsbury has been the focus of a series of lengthy road closures for work being carried out by Shropshire Council, Severn Trent, and National Grid.

The most recent, as part of Shrewsbury's Integrated Transport Plan, which is designed to reduce congestion, has seen long tailbacks on Abbey Foregate due to the closure of Old Potts Way for work at the Reabrook Roundabout.

Shrewsbury Councillor Hannah Fraser has said she has been inundated with complaints about the work while Councillor Alan Mosley has called for a review of their planning.

He said: "To have had such a long period of traffic chaos in and around Shrewsbury must be harming the town and causes considerable difficulties for residents and visitors alike.

"I do think an urgent review of how this has been implemented now and in future is essential to make sure we speed up completion and so that the levels of disruption are kept to a minimum.

"It is diabolical. It just seems that there needs to be an urgent review of the way things are happening, the speed at which they are completed, and the arrangements that are in place.

"It just seems intolerable that these things are happening one after the other which means continuous disruption for residents and visitors.

"Could more of the work have been carried out during the evening? It must be costing businesses from people not coming into town."

Councillor Fraser, who represents the Abbey Ward, said the situation has seen her receive complaints from residents, motorists and businesses.

She said: "Abbey Foregate has been one of the roads that has been worst affected so I have had an inbox full of complaints from businesses and residents. Residents who are saying their homes are full of fumes because of the standing traffic on Abbey Foregate.

"We have our own little smog cloud on Abbey Foregate and businesses are suffering."

Shrewsbury has also seen considerable disruption with closures at Meole Brace Roundabout, Frankwell for gas works, and previously on Roman Road for water work.

Councillor Fraser said the planning of the work should have been more carefully considered.

She said: "The chaos does not seem to have been anticipated properly."

Shropshire Council was unable to respond at the time of going to press.