Housing applications cause anger in Wem
Plans for 27 homes near to a busy main road pose a danger to children and will lead to traffic gridlock, critics say.
Developer Norton Thorns Planning Consultancy has applied to build a mix of bungalows and two storey homes on land off Soulton Road in Wem.
But objectors say the busy road means the site is unsuitable for families with children.
Wem resident Gillian Wilson said: "There is no footpath on the north side of Soulton Road.
"Therefore any child wishing to walk to the local school or family wishing to walk to the local shops would be forced to cross the busy B4065 Soulton Road.
"Where the proposed access road enters Soulton Road, there is a blind bend to the west - towards the station and the town.
"As it would be impossible to see this traffic approaching beyond the bend it would create a major road safety hazard."
Roger Drummond, a former civil engineer who specialised in traffic engineering and accident reduction, is also opposing the application.
He said the decision to automate the town's railway level crossing had led to longer queues of traffic, and new housing development would add to the pressure on the town's roads, with the potential to cause "gridlock".
He said there should be no new developments to the east of the level crossing until alternative routes were introduced by Shropshire Council.
But Norton Thorns said the site was within easy reach of bus services and the town centre and would actually reduce the need for people to travel by car.
Soulton Road is not the only planned development to have prompted objections in Wem.
A petition has been set up to fight plans for 25 homes at Roden Grove.
People living near the site say it is a known floodplain and more homes could cause havoc.
More than 460 people have signed the petition, set up by the Roden Grove Estate Objectors.
Connie Smith, 74 of Sun Grove, said: "It's well known as being a floodplain, and people are understandably up in arms about it.
"My garden backs on to it and is two feet below the site. It is always getting flooded and can take weeks to clear – we've had to have sandbags at the bottom at times."
Developers Berrys deny that the site is in a flood zone and say building there will not have any effect on other properties.
Both applications are set to be discussed at Wem Town Council Meeting on July 31 at 7pm in the Senior Club.
