A roundabout which caused huge delays on one of the busiest routes into Shrewsbury when it was put in place three months ago will have to be rebuilt – because it isn’t level.
Officials at Persimmon Homes installed the roundabout at their site in Spring Gardens in January. But drivers say it isn’t level and have described driving around it like being on a ‘rollercoaster’ – and now the developers have been told to re-do the work at their own cost which is expected to run into thousands of pounds.
Works on the mini roundabout took around three weeks to complete after developers were given the go ahead to re-start building 188 homes in the town – almost two years after work halted due to the recession.
They received a boost of £1.8 million kickstart funding for the project at Spring Gardens in Ditherington last year, and now work has started on the foundations for the homes.
The issue was brought up at a meeting of the Community Partnership for Castlefields and Ditherington last week which provides local residents and major organisations to get together on a quarterly basis to discuss issues in the area.
Councillor Alan Mosley, Shropshire Council ward member, said: “The issue with the roundabout was brought up at the meeting where residents had described it like being on a rollercoaster.
“The problem seems to be with the roundabout not being level which is embarrassing for developers. Hopefully work to re-correct it will be re-done soon and will cause minimal disruption.”
Andy Savage, Shropshire Council’s team leader for highways development control, said: “Work to correct the new roundabout in Spring Gardens will be paid for by the developer who installed it. This work will take place as soon as possible and will be carefully coordinated with other works in the area so that any disruption is kept to a minimum.”
The meeting also heard that crime and anti-social behaviour in the area had dropped significantly according to latest police figures, the Dana area was going to be spruced up and new permanent CCTV was going to be installed.
No one from Persimmon Homes was available to comment when the Chronicle went to press.
By James Pugh