A Shropshire Councillor believes planned improvements at Mile End roundabout in Oswestry, set for a consultation event this week, are crucial.

A public consultation about proposed improvements to the roundabout in Oswestry begins on Tuesday, September 24 through to Wednesday, September 25, and aims to gather people’s views before a planning application for the work is submitted.

The consultation event is being held at Mile End Golf Club from 11am to 8pm on both days.

Councillor Steve Charmley, who is the cabinet member for economic growth, believes development around the roundabout has been constricted by

the current set-up of the road, with plans for a 'dumb-bell' approach.

He said: "The development of housing and employment land within Oswestry has been heavily constrained by the existing capacity of the road network.

“These planned improvements will improve the capacity of the road network on the A5 at Mile End, and improve the viability of planned housing developments.

“Improvements have been made to the Mile End junction in recent years but these have only addressed existing traffic issues.

The subsequent, significant increase in traffic means these further improvements are vital so that much-needed additional housing and employment can be delivered in the area.”

As part of the consultation, the proposals – and a questionnaire – will also be available to view on the council’s website from September 24 and at Oswestry Library from October 2 to November 1.

An additional meeting is also being arranged with parish and town councils, to give them the opportunity to comment and ask questions.

Under the plans, a new second roundabout would be constructed on land owned by Shropshire Council – the Oswestry Innovation Park site – and then be connected to the existing strategic road network on the A5 and A483, therefore minimising the disruption to the network during the construction phase.

Subject to planning permission, work to construct the new ‘dumbbell’ roundabout could begin in July 2020 and be completed by March 2022.

The planning application is due to be submitted in December 2019, before a final design is published in June 2020.

The preferred design option for Mile End has been agreed in principle through ongoing discussions with Highways England and is based on detailed traffic modelling work to assess future traffic requirements.