Road pricing for Shrewsbury: Cabinet to consider

The findings from a detailed study to investigate innovative ways of reducing congestion and improving public transport in the county town of Shrewsbury will be considered by Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet next week (Wednesday 12 December).

The recommendations to Cabinet are based on the final report of the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) study, undertaken with support from the Government’s Department of Transport.

The report shows that a package of transport measures, including road pricing, a new north west relief road (NWRR), and big improvements to public transport, could produce significant benefits for Shrewsbury by reducing the amount of traffic entering the town centre.

However, it also sounds a note of caution. Any road pricing scheme would have to generate enough income to cover both its own costs and the costs of new public transport services. The study confirms that, even with a toll on the new NWRR as well as the town centre, a scheme would be difficult to balance in cash-flow terms.

For this reason, Cabinet members are being recommended not to take the TIF package any further.

Cabinet will be making their recommendations to Council on Friday 14 December.

Ten areas of the UK have been undertaking similar studies, and so far just two, Cambridge and Greater Manchester, have decided in principle to implement charging schemes.

Alternative ways of funding a NWRR are still being considered, and a feasibility study has been started to see if it could incorporate an innovative flood risk management scheme.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “The TIF study has provided us with an opportunity to gather a wealth of up-to-date information about traffic and transport in the county town. This work will have continuing benefit as we develop our future transport strategy.

“This funding has also allowed us to make very good progress with the preparation of a possible north west relief road scheme, enabling us to start investigating with the Environment Agency whether this road could also incorporate a much-needed flood alleviation scheme.”

4 December 2007