'Give us a say' - Thousands sign petition demanding more powers to veto planning schemes in Shropshire

People living in towns and villages across the county want more powers over controversial developments.

In the wake of protests over housing estates, solar farms and wind turbines, they have called for more powers to have development turned down.

The petition has reached 10,561 signatures since it was set up by campaigner Adam Hamdy.

He was furious that his parish council was powerless to stop a development of 78 homes near his home in Loggerheads, near Market Drayton.

Mr Hamdy, 42, said the fact he now has 10,000 signatures means the Government will have to give them a response.

He added: "My hope is that they will realise that it is quite a sensible issue and one of bringing balance back to planning."

Mr Hamdy, a writer, set up the petition after Muller Property Group was given permission to build the homes between Mucklestone Road and Market Drayton Road in the village.

The scheme had attracted 100 letters of objection and many feared it could put a huge strain on struggling services and the local infrastructure as well as concerns that the schools are already at capacity.

The idea has chimed with a number of parish councillors across Shropshire who have fought their own planning battles for large developments and schemes.

In recent months there have been several applications to build solar farms in the south Shropshire countryside where parish councils were invited to offer their views but had no bearing on the final decision. On two occasions Shropshire Council refused plans only for a Government planning inspector to allow them on appeal.

Parish and town councils can express their opposition, but only Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils have the power to reject them – and then the decision can be overturned by an inspector on appeal.

Councillor Phil May, a parish councillor for Oswestry Parish Council, there have been a number of applications for new housing in and on the edge of the village of Morda in recent months.

He says parish councils should have a say – even a veto – on major local applications.

He added: "Speaking as an individual councillor, not for the parish council, I believe the parish council should have more say in applications.

"In my view, planning is by far the most contentious issue that faces parish councils."

Fred Jones, chairman of Bayston Hill Parish Council, said his authority had also been up against a number of unwelcome applications.

He said: "Anything that is for the benefit of the parish should be a positive.

"We are a village of 5,500 people which is larger than some towns in Shropshire.

"We have a parish plan which we try to adhere to but there are issues that crop up that are outside our control and we just have to go along with it unfortunately."