The NWRR will create unacceptable damage to the environment and landscape The council’s own analysis succinctly sums up the impact of the road on the landscape as a “large adverse impact”. This concurs with CPRE's analysis of landscape character. The NWRR would be extremely damaging to important and beautiful landscapes and wildlife, carving up irredeemably the green wedge of the Old River Bed and with a huge bridge over the river at Shelton Rough. The government’s environmental adviser Natural England has also expressed concerns about the impact of the road on wildlife sites, including Hencott Pool, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. If we are to spend £102 million on a transport scheme, surely it should be on a scheme that contributes substantially to reducing CO2 emissions. This road will simply encourage traffic and increase emissions. Alternatives are available Traffic levels in the town centre have fallen over the last few years and could be encouraged to further reduce without this devastating road. We believe the funding for the road (which is far from assured) should be spent instead on schemes which promote individual travel plans, public transport, cycling and walking. |
The NWRR is unnecessary and will be ineffective Shropshire Council’s own data shows that the NWRR will only reduce traffic on Smithfield Road in 2027 by 16% from current levels. It would do even less to relieve other roads around the town. In fact, the Council's own data shows that traffic in the town centre is declining. Nationally, Highways Agency research shows that the claimed benefits of new roads often don’t work out in practice and some roads actually create new problems. Instead the NWRR is likely to lead to an increase in overall traffic levels and do nothing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The NWRR is not a good use of public funds Shropshire Council is planning to spend at least £15 million of local funds and £87 million of central government funds on the road. In 2010/11 alone, it is planning to spend £1,064,000 of local funds developing the scheme, with £2,609,000 budgeted over the next 3 years before construction starts. Any cost overrun will also be paid from local funds. Figures used to justify this expense use highly dubious cost benefit analyses. Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency have also abandoned any thoughts of linking the NWRR to a flood defence scheme for Shrewsbury.
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