Progress report on Transport Innovation Fund study due

Press release - 5 July 2007

Technical aspects of Shropshire County Council’s study into a north-west relief road completing the Shrewsbury bypass, and the wider Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) study are expected to be completed over the next few months. Full consultation will follow with the public and stakeholders in the autumn. In the meantime, the Department for Transport requires a progress report outlining the basis for a possible future business case.

The TIF study is looking at a package of measures which could create a first class transport system serving Shrewsbury and surrounding districts. The aim is to find ways to improve the local environment and aid the local economy as Shrewsbury continues to grow, taking advantage of the unique funding opportunity that the Transport Innovation Fund presents.

The north-west relief road and TIF progress report will be discussed at the next full meeting of Shropshire County Council, on 20 July. It will also be considered by the council’s Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel when it meets on 12 July.

Councillors will also be asked to allocate an additional £926,000 for development work on the north-west relief road project. This would be funding from the annual Government allocation to Shropshire through the Local Transport Plan.

John Everall, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, said: “A north-west relief road completing the Shrewsbury bypass between the A5 and Ellesmere Road could play a significant role in the economic future of Shropshire. We are working to get the Wolverhampton-Telford high-tech corridor extended to Shrewsbury. And the Government identifying Shrewsbury as a potential “New Growth Point” means an extra 3,500 new homes in the area by 2016. It is essential that developments such as these are backed up by investment in infrastructure.

“We are also looking at options with the Environment Agency for carrying a north-west relief road over the River Severn on an embankment and bridge, together with a mechanism to control the flow of the river. This would be an excellent opportunity to deliver value for money by combining a road project with a bold scheme for alleviating future flooding of the river in Shrewsbury and other downstream communities in Shropshire and beyond,” John Everall added.

As well as completing the Shrewsbury bypass, the TIF package includes improving public transport, making improvements to the street environment, and some form of flexible, low-level road pricing.

John Everall said: “We know that there is congestion at times in Shrewsbury, along with poor air quality – and that both will get steadily worse if nothing is done. That would make the town centre a less attractive place for businesses, visitors and residents.

“The TIF package that we are studying may lever-in from Government over £100 million. It is by far the most realistic funding opportunity for taking a growing, vibrant Shrewsbury forward. But clearly there are controversial aspects of the package, and we will be engaging stakeholders and the public this autumn in a full consultation before decisions are made.”

The progress report will make clear that any road pricing in Shrewsbury would be at a low level, and that big city levels like those in London would not be acceptable. Pricing would also be linked to car parking in a way that reduces the impact on people visiting the town while discouraging through traffic.

Development work on the north-west relief road project would also support possible funding through the Regional Funding Allocation after 2012 if a TIF package cannot be agreed. Transport officers have warned, however, that there is fierce competition for this funding and there can be no guarantee of success.

Ends

For further information, call John Everall, Cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability, telephone (01743) 709250.
For media contact, call John Hargreaves, Head of Communications, telephone (01743) 252813.