Lib Dems Disappointed by Conservatives' Rejection of Western Relief Road Motion

Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats expressed their disappointment at the Conservatives' failure to support a motion at Wednesday's Bromsgrove District Council meeting to give the go ahead to a feasibility study into the development of a Western Relief Road to ease congestion in our town.

The group said they were grateful to Bob Powell who presented a 5,000 signature petition to council and especially to the members of Whitford Vale Voice for their years of tireless campaigning.

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Rob Hunter pointed out that the Liberal Democrats' first ever motion in 2019 was on a Western Relief Road, which they have always preferred to the minor but costly alterations to the A38, which he argues, have done little to tackle congestion problems.

Cllr Hunter stated that concerns were not only about the inconvenience to those travelling in Bromsgrove, but about public health, with air pollution levels already high in several areas of our town. The Relief Road would deal effectively with both problems.

At the council meeting all three Liberal Democrat councillors together with all Labour and independent councillors rejected the Conservatives' proposed traffic assessment as too little, too late as a solution to congestion experienced in the town centre. They said the 5000 people who had signed the petition for a Relief Road had already done their own "traffic assessment", every day, as they sat in traffic jams, and now wanted action. They added that multiple reports have already discussed a Western Relief Road.

Lib Dem candidate for Bromsgrove West Joanna McKenna added: "An urgent problem does not get fixed with a long-term study like this. You would not send a patient with a broken leg for a general health check-up and the Tories' response to the pleas of residents is just as inappropriate."

"Bromsgrove Lib Dems accept the need for, and welcome new housing, but only when there is adequate investment in local infrastructure to support it. We believe a Western Relief Road would address the traffic problems residents are facing and our council owes it to them to at least consider it as a matter of urgency".

Councillor Rob Hunter summed up: "The Lib Dem group were pleased to get behind plans for a Western Relief Road once again this week. Residents are crying out for something to be done about chronic traffic congestion and it's about time they were listened to."