Letter: Ashamed of parish after Wrekin meeting
Thanks to a local landowner, the community have been offered an agricultural field adjoining the Wrekin, with access immediately on to the hill.
Planning permission has been given for parking and a mobile cafe in one comer of the field, which would be well screened and landscaped, and have off road facilities for the disabled.
This would not only eliminate the need to park and open doors on the narrow roads: You would not have to walk on them either, making it safer for visitors, cyclists and emergency vehicles.
On attending Little Wenlock Parish Council meeting this month, I was horrified therefore that, apart from Steve Holding, the remaining members were opposing this project.
They also declared that double yellow lines should be on the roads, – hardly in keeping with the area – and one member even said: “We don’t want more people on the Wrekin.”
What nimbyism to snub such a generous offer that would solve the parking problem without turning people away!
The Wrekin forest and hill are not for them alone. They make me ashamed to be in their parish.
Janet Mees
Arleston Hill
Comments for: "Letter: Ashamed of parish after Wrekin meeting"
eva land
[“We don’t want more people on the Wrekin.”]
Much as though I agree that this sort of comment is absolutely typical Janet I think you may be missing the bigger picture.
After a deal with Barden Aggregates in exchange for further quarrying, Haughmond Hill was then santatized with a cafe, parking, paths, disabled access all of which have some positive aspects except maybe the over population of signs and so called educational boards.
The Forestry Commission then, despite being paid for by the taxpayer, see an a opportunity to make money out of Joe Public, pensioners and families. Harding working families or families working hard to survive in this now family unfriendly, political climate.
So this might seem innocuous but a car park would probably lead to charging a fee and walking up the Wrekin will cost money just as enjoying Haughmond Hill is going to.
H. St. John Peasbody
The Wrekin is a local hill for local people.
father Ted
Dont intend to be horrid here but if they cant get out of their cars, then how are
they going to get up the Wrekin ?
Health and safety.
This is just a question I am not having a go.
AC
To be fair, given that people walking on the wrekin are contributing to the erosion of the iron-age features at the top, the comment about not wanting more people visiting isn't that unreasonable.
I don't believe I have ever decided to walk up the Wrekin and found myself unable to do so due to being unable to park. To be honest, if there were so many people on the Wrekin that there was nowhere to park, I think I'd probably find somewhere less crowded to walk... what's the point of going for a nice walk in the country if it's going to be just as crowded as the town-centre?
David
I personally have never seen the attraction of walking up the Wrekin. It's not the prettiest or highest hill in the county by a long shot. But I guess being right next to Telford means it's the nearest proper hill for the residents there.
Erosion caused by people is an issue. Would be good to get people spreading out a bit more, perhaps in the wider Wrekin forest area. But I guess they'd all still want to climb to the top!
Watchdog
Hold on. How easily the Forest Glen and coach loads of visitors are forgotten. The hill has probably been climbed by millions over the centuries. A few more million feet are unlikely to reduce it to a molehill overnight. NIMBYism. Nothing more.
BamBam
Watchdog! you are a dying breed, there's not many people left with common sense anymore. The forest glenn, I remember it well, even when it was left to fall apart. When will these people realize that when you increase the population of the town, this population will want to use the local facilities, its only fair to give them access. It will still be there 1000's of years after we have gone.