Traffic at an already congested roundabout on the outskirts of Shrewsbury will only get worse if plans for a new service station next to the A5 get the green light next week, it has been claimed.
Councillor Alex Wagner has waded into the debate over the proposals for land next to Churncote Island, after hearing concerns from his residents about water levels and extra traffic.
Councillor Wagner, who represents Bowbrook, is now calling on Shropshire Council’s northern planning committee to refuse permission when the scheme comes forward to be decided next Tuesday.
It comes after the application was deferred at last month’s meeting to allow the applicant, EG Group, to address concerns over traffic, staff parking, footpath provision and for further discussions about how much money the company should contribute to the proposed North West Relief Road.
Councillor Wagner said: “Anyone who lives in the Bicton Heath area or accesses Shrewsbury from the west knows how congested the Churncote roundabout can get.
“It’s hard to see how a new services on the A5 can do anything but make the situation worse.
“Many residents and local bodies, including Bicton Parish Council, have made their views very clear.
“I really don’t feel that EuroGarages have done enough to address those local concerns or really understand why people are upset.
“The committee has rejected plans for a service station at this location before, and deferred the proposal once more last month.
“I’d urge them to listen closely and interrogate the many planning issues with this specific proposal, and reject the application again next week.”
If approved, the development would include a petrol station and drive-through coffee shop. Further units including offices and a drive-through restaurant were dropped from the proposals after an earlier version of the application was refused last year.
The site is allocated for employment use and forms part of the Shrewsbury West Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), the masterplan for which was approved in 2014.
EG Group says the development will create 21 full-time equivalent jobs, and a “biodiversity net gain”. There will also be electric vehicle charging points.
Planning officers have recommended that the committee approves the application.
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