Shropshire Star

Homes bid 'cuts into the heart of village' near Oswestry

Developers must not be allowed to "cut into the heart" of the countryside was the message from councillors at a planning meeting yesterday.

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A number of planning applications in the Oswestry area were discussed by Shropshire Council's north planning committee.

This included an outline application to create about 22 homes off Chapel Lane, Trefonen.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, local councillor for the area, said people were opposed to the proposed development.

"I have never seen so many objections in all my time on the planning committee," she said.

"This will ruin the character of Trefonen and will cut right through the heart of the countryside and we as councillors should be letting this happen.

"The village has been cemented in its opposition.

"This village has doubled in size in the last 20 years, most of which has taken place in the last 10 years.

"The village is unique and is in danger.

"If this goes ahead then the rural element of the village will be irreversibly changed.

"It is a tranquil and beautiful place.

"It is time for us to back our principles of localism and support this community."

Speaking to the committee Julian Francis, chairman of the Trefonen Rural Protection Group, said the site had been rejected for development in 1990.

He said: "The rural element of this village will be detrimentally affected."

But Stuart Taylor, speaking for the developer, insisted there was a need for smaller houses for families in the village.

But councillors also heard there is no shop or Post Office in the village.

And Councillor David Lloyd warned the committee he thought it would be acting irresponsibly if it allowed development to put more pressures on the resources in the area.

Councillor Paul Wynn also said he did not feel the development would be a sustainable one.

Councillor Tony Cheetham, said he had concerns because the development would involve building on a former mining area and that there maybe unknown mine shafts which could affect the build.

"We are worried about the amount of traffic that is going to be coming to the area. We have already had a serious accident in the past where a child was knocked down," he said.

Councillors unanimously rejected the application.

Two further outline applications submitted to create about 32 homes on land between Twyford Lane and Holyhead Road and 25 homes at The Cross, both of which are in West Felton, near Oswestry, were deferred.

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