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CPRE has discovered that Shropshire Council knew that the North West Relief Road had been put on hold by the Department for Transport for nine working days before the Council announced the delay. [1] During this time, the council was running a consultation on the road and election candidates were debating the proposals at hustings.

Andy Boddington, Chairman of CPRE Shropshire says “This is an astonishing discovery. Council officers were running exhibitions consulting on the North West Relief Road without revealing that they knew government had put off its consideration of the scheme for at least a year. It is disgraceful that the Council felt it fit to run a consultation during the run up to the election yet held this vital information back. Candidates were arguing for and against the road at hustings not knowing the whole situation had changed.”

The election candidates had a range of views on the road with one clearly supporting it. [2]

Andy Boddington continues: “It is absolutely clear that the Council will not get funding for this road anytime soon. It is highly likely that the road will never be funded. The Council has behaved outrageously. It should abandon its obsession with this environmentally destructive project and concentrate on improved traffic management and public transport, and on promoting cycling and walking.”

Notes

[1] On 11 May, Shropshire Council announced that the North West Relief Road has been put on hold by the Department for Transport. CPRE’s national transport team discovered that the Department for Transport sent a letter by email to the Council on 29 April announcing the delay (letter). It says that future budgets are uncertain and advises the Council “you will wish to think carefully about whether to submit a bid for Programme Entry as I understand you plan to do soon”. The Department says it is reviewing its options and tells the Council “In the interim, if you choose to continue work on your major scheme, it will have to be at your own risk.”

[2] Jon Tandy, Labour said he supported the plan but also more integrated public transport. Conservative Daniel Kawczynski said no future government would have any money for it and the scheme was not a priority for him. Liberal Democrat Charles West said he would not support it without an integrated public transport system. Green Party candidate Alan Whittaker opposed the road. Source: BBC News

Further Information

• The North West Relief Road