A MAJOR upgrade of rail and road links across the Oswestry area have been revealed today (Friday, February 3).

Midlands Connect is proposing introducing faster and more frequent rail services along the Chester to Shrewsbury line, which includes Chirk and Gobowen, as well as major improvements to local roads including the A5 and the long-awaited Pant and Llanymynech bypass.

The transport body says its 'Marches Road and Rail blueprint’, which looks at improvements across the Marches and Mid Wales regions, would "unlock the economic potential" of the area.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect said: “This document outlines a series of road and rail projects that we believe could unlock the full economic potential of the Marches and Mid and West Wales.

“Midlands Connect has been working closely with the Welsh Government to create a plan that we will take to government in Westminster.

“All these improvements would help bind the union together but help Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin get the rail and road improvements they need.”

As part of the plans for the Chester to Shrewsbury line, the plan proposes securing faster and a higher frequency of trains, with greater direct connectivity between Telford and Chester.

It also calls for reviews of accessibility to train stations, identifying any barriers people may have in using them for the “first and last mile” of their journey.

The blueprint also proposes Government-support upgrades on the Birmingham - Black Country - Shrewsbury line and have already called for increasing the speed on the line between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton to 90mph.

With regards to roads, Midlands Connect is calling for upgrades to the A5 to improve safety but also enhance its role in the connection of England with Holyhead, and also calls for the Pant and Llanymynech bypass to be delivered as soon as possible.

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Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said: “Communities across the Midlands and Wales are being held back by a lack of public transport, particularly in rural areas like North Shropshire.

“It’s vital that rail and bus routes are expanded, integrated and made accessible so that everyone can reach the jobs and services they need wherever they happen to live.

“It’s also crucial to improve safety in the villages of Llanymnech and Pant and Llynclys by building a bypass along the Welsh border, so I’m pleased that Midlands Connect’s proposals reflect all of these key priorities.

“The case for connecting the region is clear. The Government must now build on these proposals and implement them as soon as possible.”

The plans, which have been created in conjunction with the Welsh Government, are due to go before the UK Government to ask for funding of the rail schemes as part of the Union Connectivity Review, after funding was set aside in November 2021 for key projects.

Chairwoman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, Sonia Roberts welcomed the proposals and hopes they will help businesses.

She said: "An efficient, effective and reliable transport network is absolutely essential if the Marches is to fully realise its potential.

"It is vital that we work with partners on both sides of the border to ensure that our transport network meets the needs of business, wherever in the region it is based."

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