No decision on Oswestry hillfort housing plan 'until after election'
Campaigners fighting moves to allow development at the foot of Oswestry's historic Iron Age hillfort say they are not expecting to hear a decision until after the General Election.
Members of the Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort group, or Hoooh, say they had been told housing development blueprints would appear by around the middle of February for final consultation, but after delays they have now been told it won't be available until "at least the end of April".
Planning inspector Claire Sherratt is looking at the SAMDev proposals, Shropshire Council's development blueprint to 2026. The plan includes development OSW004, which would put a housing development into the fields around the hillfort.
John Waine, spokeman for Hoooh, said he believes officials are keeping a lid on the outcome of the controversial proposals until after the election.
He said: "It's fair to say that we are very disappointed with the delays in the modified SAMDev plan. It seems that publication may not come through until after the election and people will make up their own minds as to whether this move is politically-motivated or not.
"From the point of view of Hoooh campaign, now coming up to two years, we believe that the case for removal of OSW004 is overwhelming, and we have provided clear evidence to that conclusion with growing support from all quarters.
"We believe the protracted delay in a decision on the development is stretching public faith in localism to the very limit. It would be a highly cynical move to postpone what is a politically incendiary planning judgment into post-election safety."
More than 8,000 people signed a petition against the development and others have lodged objections during public consultation into the plans.
SAMDev is a plan of areas which can be developed over the next 11 years to meet projected housing needs in Shropshire. Shropshire Council has been working on the proposals for the past three years.
Mr Waine said: "Going forward, it is clear that Old Oswestry hillfort is a precious heritage asset of national and international significance, and as such, requires protection from some form of heritage greenbelt.
"Whatever the outcome, the campaign will continue to work hard to protect, promote and celebrate the 'Stonehenge of the Iron Age' and the ancient heart of Oswestry for the town, the county and the country as a whole."
