Council gains stakeholder support for road scheme using 'confidential data'

24/01/2025 | CHRIS AMES

Council gains stakeholder support for road scheme using 'confidential data'

Shropshire Council has declined to disclose the modelling it is using to gain support among public sector leaders for a controversial relief road scheme.

Last week the highway authority published a press release, which it said showed that the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR) is ‘gathering strong support for the benefits it will deliver to key local organisations, from healthcare providers and emergency services to public transport operators in the county’.

These organisations included Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SATH) NHS Trust, which it said highlighted the road’s critical importance in improving access to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, 'expressing that the reduced journey times and congestion will benefit patients, visitors, and hospital staff alike'.

SATH interim chief executive Jo Williams was also quoted as stating that journey times to the hospital, especially from the north and east of the area, and Telford, will be reduced and that reductions in congestion in many residential neighbourhoods to the north of the area will improve air quality.

Highways asked the council and SATH what information these comments were based on.

SATH has not provided a response or explanation.

Dan Morris, cabinet member for highways, said that the modelling produced in 2017 for the scheme’s outline business case (OBC) ‘showed significant time savings between the north and west of Shrewsbury compared to scenarios where the NWRR is not built, as well as other benefits including improved air quality in Shrewsbury, fewer road traffic collisions, and increased investment in the county’.

He added that, as part of drawing up the scheme’s full business case (FBC) new modelling had been conducted, in line with updated Department for Transport guidance and some of the figures have been updated, stressing that ‘the substance of the business case for the NWRR remains unaffected’.

Cllr Morris said the council had met with key stakeholders to ‘dispel some of the myths around the impact of the NWRR’ and that 'these stakeholders have been shown excerpts from the traffic, collision, and journey-time modelling that has been undertaken as part of the FBC'.

He acknowledged that these stakeholders had no industry expertise and had issued statements in support of the road ‘based on the information available in the draft FBC’.

Cllr Morris claimed that the behind-the-scenes briefings in which the council showed stakeholders selected highlights of its data were in response to ‘misinformation’ about the road from opponents including Campaign group Better Shrewsbury Transport (BeST).

Although Cllr Morris suggested that the highway authority had generated new traffic data, a Shropshire Council planning officer told campaigners that the ‘re-run’ of the traffic modelling involved re-use of the current and published NWRR traffic model outputs, verified for FBC submission against revised government carbon assessment requirements, but with the traffic model and outputs unchanged.

Highways asked Shropshire Council if it would disclose the traffic, collision, and journey-time modelling that was undertaken as part of the FBC but claimed that it could not send extracts or drafts from the FBC externally until it is before the full Council later this year. This is despite sharing extracts with stakeholders through its public relations campaign.

BeST has also called on the council to share the data.

Mike Streetly of BeST said: 'We were very surprised to see senior leaders from public bodies coming out in support of this project since the traffic modelling that would support their claims hasn’t been publicly released by the council.

‘The only traffic assessment available on the planning portal is from 2021 based on 2017 traffic figures. That report certainly doesn’t support claims that the NWRR will reduce journey times near the hospital for instance, so what has convinced these senior leaders about the road?’

Mr Streetly added: ‘The 2021 Transport Assessment suggests that the A5/B4386/B4386/Mytton Oak Road roundabout – where ambulances come onto Mytton Oak Road from the A5 – will see increased queues if the NWRR is built, with one arm forecast to operate over capacity.

‘Similarly the council’s own figures show that the NWRR will worsen queuing at the Mytton Oak Road/Gains Park Way junction and at the Racecourse Lane/Mytton Oak Road Roundabout. This doesn’t represent a significant improvement in access to the hospital, so it’s surprising to see SaTH’s interim chief executive responding so positively to the project.

‘We find it very concerning that confidential data is apparently being shared with public bodies, but not with the Shropshire councillors who sit on the planning committee, nor with the taxpayers who are ultimately funding it.’

On Tuesday, the council’s Northern Planning Committee backed a change in the scheme’s planning permission that will allow it to delay making the scheme ‘carbon neutral’ – by offsetting in the UK and abroad – by 2050.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Transportation Planning Officer

Band F, SCP 26-31 (£36,124 - £40,476 per annum)
Have you got a degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning, Geography or Town Planning? Sandwell, West Midlands
Recruiter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Technical Officer / Senior Technical Officer - Trading Standards Port Surveillance Officer

Grade G SCP 20 - 25 - Grade I SCP 31 - 35,
Sefton Trading Standards is a Market Surveillance Authority responsible for ensuring consumer goods. Sefton (Metropolitan borough), Merseyside
Recruiter: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Technician – Highway Drainage

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
The Highway Drainage Management Team is an established team within the Highways Service Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Solicitor

NJC34 (43,693) - NJC39 (48,710)
North East Lincolnshire Council’s Legal Services team is a dynamic and integral part of the Council North East Lincolnshire
Recruiter: North East Lincolnshire Council

Prestige Gardener x2

£27,711.00 - £30,559.00, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
The post holder will be part of a Street Scene Team to deliver a high quality citizen focused Street Scene service Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Street Scene Supervisor

£34,314 - £37,035, Grade 8, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Street Scene Supervisor working from our Depot at Castleford Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Multi Skilled Operative x 3

Grade 3 - Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking enthusiastic and capable colleagues to join our Highway Operations team Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Head of Service Traffic and Projects

£76,665 to £79,812
We are seeking a dynamic and highly qualified individual to lead our Traffic, Projects and Design & Construction division. Leyton, London (Greater)
Recruiter: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Highways Project Engineer

£30,559 to £41,511
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Shovel Driver Plant Operative - Chelmsford

Up to £28033.0000 per annum + 6% flat rate allowance
Shovel Driver Plant Operative - Chelmsford Waste Transfer StationPermanent, Full Time£28,033 + 6% flat rate allowance (£1,681.98 per annum)Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

UGO bus Coordinator

£26357.0000 - £31008.0000 per annum + pension
UGO bus CoordinatorPermanent, Full Time£26,357 to £31,008 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Waste Management Officer

SO1 (scp 26-29) £36,124 to £38,626 per annum
We have an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of waste services in the Ribble Valley. Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recruiter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

UGO bus Coordinator

£26357.00 - £31008.00 per annum + pension
UGO bus CoordinatorPermanent, Full Time£26,357 to £31,008 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Project Engineer

£30,559 - £41,511 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming, Area 3 Highways team who are proud to manage all aspects of the highway network Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW