Community scheme upgrades road to boost local shops
A £40,000 scheme to upgrade a poorly maintained unadopted road outside local shops was unveiled in Telford this morning.
The scheme was largely funded by the shop owners with additional contributions from Telford & Wrekin Council and Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council.
The unadopted road alongside Haybridge Road, Hadley, is in private ownership but efforts to trace the owner have proved fruitless.
Shopkeepers have been filling in potholes themselves but the road’s condition had continued to decline in recent years, prompting complaints from customers of the shops.
The driving force behind the repairs is Julie Duhra, of Jule’s Convenience Store, who pulled together contributions from the other nearby shops and the two councils to make the scheme possible.
The scheme – which has been completed by RD Marsh Contractors – includes a new one way system, new parking bays, a zebra crossing and two disabled spaces.
An official opening of the new road scheme took place at 10am with a small community celebration event, attended by residents, representatives of local businesses, Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council, borough mayor Councillor Leon Murray and other organisations.
Mrs Duhra said: “I am hoping that the new road scheme will increase footfall for all the shops here. This is the culmination of 30 years of waiting for a viable scheme to upgrade the road to come forward.
“Hopefully it will mean all our customers are much happier to shop here and it will also mean that the businesses are considerably more marketable in the future.”
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, Employment and Skills, said: “It is fantastic to see local businesses and organisations including two councils and a local councillor using money from the Ward Co-operative Fund to all work co-operatively to take pride in their community.
“I know that this road has caused an issue for a considerable length of time for both shop owners and their customers and it is great to see that everyone has come together to develop a sustainable solution to upgrade this stretch of unadopted road.
“This compliments the regeneration of Hadley centre and is a further example of our business supporting work.”
The shops are not far from the spot where nine year old Jayden McIver was tragically killed in a road accident and plans are being made for a memorial to the youngster as part of the scheme. This will include a contribution from the scheme contractor R D Marsh.
