Vow to fight on as plan to demolish Mary Webb's home is rejected again

The plans to replace Spring Cottage at Lyth Hill in Shrewsbury with a five-bedroom home have been refused by planning officers at Shropshire Council after more than 50 objections.

The scheme had come under fire from Mary Webb enthusiasts and local residents who said demolishing the house would be detrimental to something key in the county's literary history.

But applicant Joe Kwaterski said he would use the refusal to learn what needed to be done, and look at re-submitting plans in the future.

He said: "Like everybody else we have been following it with quite a degree of interest.

"It is another step in the direction.

"We now have to consult with the various people to see what we want to do to meet the new challenges.

"Whenever we get a refusal what we have is the means to address the next application.

"We thought we had done enough this time but we are being pragmatic.

"I don't think we are doing anything wrong, we just have to plan something that is going to be acceptable in terms of planning approval and what compromises we and the current environment are going to make so we can live along side each other.

"We just want to build a family home.

"We want to see what we can do to be accepted as neighbours in the area.

"We don't want to threaten the local environment but be part of it."

Mr Kwaterski said no historic reference to Mary Webb remained at the property as work that had been done previously changed it "significantly" to when the author lived there.

The proposal was first put forward in 2013 but the application was rejected and planning inspectors said the development would harm the character and appearance of the local area.

Mr Kwaterski added that the application had worked on criteria given when the previous application went to appeal and was dismissed.

The scheme had attracted objections from Longden Parish Council and the Mary Webb Society with some saying it would be particularly bad timing as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the publciation of her first novel.

Gladys Mary Coles, president of the Mary Webb Society said that it would be "very sad and cynical" and that she could not understand why someone would demolish "such an important place in Shropshire's literary history".

The scheme included plans for the five-bedroomed home, a swimming pool, orangery and basement cinema.