Views of residents ignored

Whilst I would be the first to admit that central Donnington is not the most picturesque of areas, it did possess a little haven of green open space.

This small area of grassland, bounded on four sides by Church Walk and Turreff Avenue, has been for many years a safe place for local children to play not far from their homes.

Parents could watch their children from their living room and the children were mere seconds away from their parents should any trouble or difficulties arise.

This, thanks to Telford & Wrekin Council, will now no longer be the case.

Despite two petitions by local people opposing the scheme, building work has now started on the construction of 20 houses and flats on the grassland.

Not content with removing an agreeable play area for local children, the council approved dwellings of a style and number that residents view as wholly inappropriate and offensive, and which will cause untold chaos with regard to parking and traffic management.

Donnington, as many will be aware, consists of - mainly - two storey, brick-built dwellings. The new flats and houses will have walls of white render and timber cladding, with roofs of green corrugated iron. The design has been modelled on a 1997 development carried out in Glasgow on a riverside urban regeneration project; not the ideal template for such an area.

Why do residents in Telford seem to continually be ignored by elected members of the council?

Simon Miller, Donnington