Shropshire Council’s cabinet met yesterday to discuss various items, including the Shifnal Town Centre and Highways Improvement Scheme. The report on the scheme can be found here https://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/documents/s26049/Report%20-%20Shifnal%20Town%20Centre%20and%20Highways%20Improvement%20Scheme%20FINAL.pdf
I have previously posted here outlining the history and reasoning behind the Town Council’s decision to progress the Town Centre Highway Scheme https://edwardbird.wordpress.com/2020/10/18/the-decision-to-progress-shifnal-integrated-transport-scheme-sits/
In summary, not all of the costs of the original scheme were budgeted for (upwards of £4 million), so given the budget available, that the project had been accruing costs for over 5 years and that there was a risk that Shifnal would lose this money altogether, the scheme was approved by the Town Council. It is not on the scale of what was originally planned for the Town, however it will improve Shifnal. One of the main sticking points was that Shifnal should not have to spend its local area fund, which it does not under this scheme. The final stage will be approval at full Shropshire council.
Decision:
RESOLVED:
– That Cabinet recommend to Council approval of the Shifnal Town Centre and Highways Improvement Scheme and allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy funds for the Shifnal area of £1,887,779.00 and £829,000 of Section 106 funds for highway junction improvements for project delivery.
– That Cabinet recommend to Council approval of a tender process and subsequent mobilisation to facilitate delivery of the Shifnal Town Centre Improvement Plan as supported with all parties.
– That Cabinet recommend to Council delegation to the Assistant Director of Infrastructure to amend the project as required in response to the tender outcome.
– That Cabinet recommend to Council approval of the necessary engagement and information process to deliver this project in association with Shifnal Town Council and wider Town groups as required.
I also submitted a question to the cabinet, as did my colleague Kevin Turley, asking for an extension to the local plan consultation period. I was, unfortunately, unable to attend the meeting in person, due to work commitments, and have been very disappointed that an extension was rejected. https://www.sunshineradio.co.uk/ludlow/news/local-news/final-public-consultation-on-local-plan-to-begin-next-week/
Following the regulation 19 consultation, the plan will need to be approved by the full council at a meeting in March 2021, after which it will be sent for government examination. It is expected to be adopted in spring 2022, should it be approved.
Edward Bird - Councillor for Shifnal South and Cosford 