Shropshire Star

Market Drayton residents seek talks in bid to block homes

Residents fighting to protect their community from new housing have called on councillors to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the issue.

Published

People living in Woodseaves, near Market Drayton, are concerned that they could have to wait until September 17 before Sutton-upon-Tern Parish Council plans to discuss it.

They are unhappy that their area has been put forward as part of Shropshire Council's Site Allocation and Management Development Plan (SAMDev).

Sutton Lane, Sydnall Lane and Tyrley have been nominated for possible development as part of the proposals for Sutton Parish put forward by parish councillors.

But residents fear that could lead to the loss of their open countryside status and allow housing development. Residents, who voiced their concerns to councillors at a meeting last week, have accused the council of not engaging with them.

They also say the council has told them it is not planning to discuss the issue until September, which they claim is too late.

A petition has been launched to get the areas removed from the plans which has so far been signed by about 100 people.

Rachel Dams, who helped launch the petition, said a residents' meeting was held last Wednesday night.

"It was well attended. There were about 25 people, including new faces as well as people who attended previously," she said.

"We talked about last week's parish council meeting and believe we were treated in an unacceptable way.

"We felt we were ignored and they would not answer our questions.

"The parish council is due to discuss it at its next meeting on September 17 but people are saying it is too long to wait. It is a controversial issue which needs addressing now.

"We want it to be brought forward. Residents want the parish council to call an extraordinary meeting. People are writing to individual councillors to call a meeting."

Mrs Dams added residents were planning to speak to North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson when he holds his next constituency surgery in Market Drayton on Friday.

The parish council has said it did not wish to comment on the issue.

But in a previous statement on its website it said it had been agreed that between 10 and 15 homes could be build across the sites as part of SAMDev.

Shropshire Council has said the SAMDev Plan is now in its submission form and any amendments can only be made where they concern minor matters such as editorial changes.

But it added more significant alterations to the plan will be considered as part of an independent examination.

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