Campaign to smarten up Shrewsbury traffic roundabout gathers momentum

Tony Bywater, chairman of caravan dealership Salop Leisure, is furious about the state of the controversial redesigned Emstrey roundabout on Shrewsbury bypass, which is located alongside the business.

A loyal supporter of the Shrewsbury in Bloom campaign over many years, he cannot believe why no thought was given to landscaping the centre of the roundabout, which was the target of protests during recent, multi-million pound roadworks.

He succeeded with a campaign to have some trees felled to improve visibility and road safety, but his request for the roundabout to be landscaped into a grass dome, which is easy to maintain and keep tidy, has fallen on deaf ears.

Now local MP Daniel Kawczynski and Shropshire Councillor Clare Wild have joined the campaign to smarten up the roundabout.

“It’s such a shame that the roundabout was not finished off properly after all the expense on the road improvements,” said Mr Bywater. “We are now left with nettles, thistles, weeds and bare earth at one of the main entrances to the town.

“We have always taken great pride in the appearance of our premises and the roadside outside our business and had hoped that the roundabout would be maintained to the same high standard. But it’s an absolute mess and something needs to be done about it.”

Mr Kawczynski has pledged to take up the issue with the Highways Agency. “I am keen to see the appearance of this prominent roundabout improved and will be writing to the Highway’s Agency to ask whether there is any intention of landscaping being undertaken,” he said.

Cllr Wild, who also wants the signage on the roundabout improved, said: “The central reservation is an absolute disgrace considering the town won the Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions award last year and it’s at the gateway entrance to Shrewsbury.”