Council defends its decision on Wem homes plan

Ian Kilby, the council's planning services manager, said the authority had done nothing wrong by allowing permission for the homes to be built in Roden Grove.

He also declined to comment on claims by campaigners that a hedgerow next to the site that was home to a protected species of newts had been uprooted illegally.

Members of Roden Grove Campaign Group have said they are worried a disputed strip of land between Roden Grove in Wem and a controversial site to build 25 houses is being targeted.

The group recently hoped its report would provide enough evidence to convince the council it was wrong to give the home development the green light.

Shropshire Council confirmed to the campaign group that it would not be revoking its decision, originally made in May last year, after studying the report.

The group is consulting a solicitor about possible legal action. Members believe the council should have gone through its planning committee before coming to a decision.

But the council has always insisted it followed the correct procedures when using delegated powers to approve the plans.

A spokesman for the campaigners said: "The decision to allow planning permission is considered by Roden Grove Campaign Group as unconstitutional and does not follow correct planning procedures for this type of development.

"Although the planning permission has been granted, an eight metre section of historic hedge has been illegally uprooted and destroyed.

"Based on national hedgerow guidance a number of rules within this guidance have been broken, namely no public notification prior to the hedge removal and subsequent destruction of a hedge section that dates before 1845.

"Since the removal of the hedge section, the narrow strip of land it stood on has been in dispute under 'adverse possession' ruling and is currently in the hands of the Land Registry.

"In 2015, and against the findings of a substandard ecology report commissioned by the land agent, Great Crested Newts were found within the vicinity of the destroyed hedge section.

"Taking legal advice from a consultant ecologist, the actions of the landowner or their agent appear to be in breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The police have been told."

Mr Kilby said: "The press release by the group is factually incorrect, insofar as the reference to comments about the council's constitution and the decision to delegate the application being 'wrong'. This has been explained to individuals and the group previously on several occasions."