A joint meeting between parish councils and Shropshire Council in Shrewsbury this month is likely to become a “clear the air” session following complaints about a lack of local democracy, Pontesbury Parish Council heard.

Several parish councils around Shrewsbury, including Uffington and Minsterley, have accused the unitary authority of failing to take their views into account in planning matters.

They claim the situation has got worse since this year’s reorganisation of local government which saw Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council replaced by the considerably larger Shropshire Council which has taken over as the planning authority.

The matter has come to a head over several recent controversial applications for mini-estates of affordable homes in Uffington and Minsterley.

Shropshire Council claims more houses are needed to prevent young local families being squeezed out of their home communities. But the parish councils claim homes are not needed and local people are overwhelmingly opposed to them.

Shropshire Council has insisted it does listen to parish councils but has to make decisions on strict legal and planning grounds.

The dispute will almost certainly be aired at a joint parish council meeting to be held at Shropshire Council’s Guildhall council chamber at 7pm on November 25.

Pontesbury Parish Council will be among those represented, its chairman John Pritchard told Monday night’s parish council meeting at Mary Webb School.

“This will be a golden opportunity to talk things over with planners,” he said.

“I don’t think the system functions as well as it used to with Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council.

“The message we have got to get over is: Change up two gears!”

The parish council meeting also saw the arrival of new co-opted member Alan Hodges, of Cruckton. There is still another vacancy remaining for a parish councillor to represent Cruckton ward.

By Peter Johnson