Planning decisions 'making it a waste of time being a councillor'

Councillor Ron Jones said it had become a major concern how many large applications were being approved at Shropshire Council level despite objections from parish councils.

And he warned some villages in the county could soon become small towns because of the number of large scale housing developments being put forward.

Councillor Jones serves on Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council and sat on the now defunct Oswestry Borough Council for eight years.

Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council joined several other objectors opposing plans for the building of up to 50 homes in Whittington Road in Gobowen.

The parish council opposed the plan, saying it was backland development and did not fit in with local aspirations.

The application attracted 22 objections and 30 letters of support.

Supporters said that there were a shortage of new homes for young people in Gobowen and that new residents would help support local businesses.

Councillors on Shropshire Council's north planning committee last week voted in favour of the outline planning application after hearing that because Shropshire does not have its five-year housing allocation, little weight could be given to the current housing supply policy.

Councillor Jones said: "This has now become a major concern and is frustrating for local people.

"It is almost a waste of time being on a parish council if they are going to be almost ignored. It is happening time and time again."

Shropshire Council Speaker Councillor David Lloyd, who represents Gobowen on the unitary authority, said although the public may feel views were being ignored, planning officers often had to recommend approval because of the five-year housing allocation situation.

He added: "People do have legitimate concerns and the council does listen to them."