Improve road links to Shrewsbury: Call

After another week of flooding at Llandrinio Bridge which followed a year of more problems at the Cefn Bridge blackspot near Trewern, renewed calls have been made to sort out our road links with Shrewsbury.

It’s more than two years since the long-awaited Newtown bypass opened, and a year since it was revealed that the Pant-Llanymynech bypass would go ahead at some point following a UK and Welsh Government agreement.

But there are concerns that more pressing road problems could be put on the back burner as a result, leading to a New Year call from Montgomery Senedd Member Russell George to make the two issues a 2021 priority. 

“In recent years, we have seen how delays to repairing Cefn Bridge in Trewern caused congestion and huge disruption for people living in the area and across mid Wales,” said Mr George.

“We have also seen how flooding has forced the closure of the B4393 at Llandrinio (pictured) on a number of occasions. Most people agree that both the A458 Road (Welshpool to Shrewsbury) and the B4393 Road (Llandrinio to Shrewsbury) need improvements.

“For the A458 road, a significant number of people have expressed concerns about the safety of Cefn Railway Bridge and also raised concerns about the speed of vehicles on this road.

“I will continue to work alongside Cllrs Amanda Jenner and Lucy Roberts (county councillors for Trewern and Llandrinio respectively) on these matters.

“Thank you for those who completed my survey in 2020; the responses have allowed me to take up the main issues with the Welsh Government Minister for Transport to highlight the needs of our area.”

Mr George said he will continue to work with MP Craig Williams to on the Pant-Llanymynech bypass after revealing: “I am also pleased that discussions are progressing between Highways England and the Welsh Government to develop the scheme and to identify the options. I will continue to urge both Governments to progress the scheme as soon as possible.”