Shropshire Star

Bid for 75 homes near problem rail crossing in Wem

Another 75 homes could be built in a town after developers applied to build houses close to a problem level crossing.

Published

An outline application has been submitted for the residential development on land between Aston Road and Church Lane in Wem.

But with smaller applications already causing upset in the town, the large scale project to turn a greenfield site into a residential area could prompt further objections from residents, according to the town's mayor Mandy Meakin.

She also said the proposed development was "very close" to the town's level crossing, which is the sixth most abused in the country according to Network Rail. The barriers have also suffered mechanical gremlins in recent times, including on Tuesday when traffic was backed up during the morning rush hour.

Councillor Meakin said: "I think people are going to have a few problems with this application.

"I haven't seen the plans yet and it hasn't been put before the council so I can't comment too much. But it's a vast amount of houses, and very close to the level crossing which we are still having real problems with."

"I don't think the council would really recommend building that side of the crossing, and it is right on our boundary."

The town's level crossing on Aston Street has created tailback traffic to wait for as much as 20 minutes on a number of occasions when faults caused the barriers slam shut.

The plans include creating access to Church Lane and Soulton Road, where an application for 27 homes has been submitted.

Councillor John Murray of Wem Town Council said: "We had a lot of people at the meeting to tell us their opinions of the Soulton Road application and obviously with a plan of 75 homes I'm sure there will be a lot of concerns there too.

"But I don't think we have the infrastructure to cope with that many houses - the doctors and the schools will really struggle.

"And we all know about the traffic problems we have in the town.

"All in all, I think the application should be very carefully considered, which I am sure it will be."

He said: "I think we'll have a lot of people at the meeting to voice their opinions, and I hope they do, so that developers can be given a clear message of what they think about the plans."

In a highways and drainage report supporting the application, it was suggested that some money allocated to the development could be used to improve signage and road markings around the level crossing to reduce the impact of another 75 homes.

The consultation period will begin on August 12 and residents can post comments on Shropshire Council's website.

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