Campaigners warn of dormitory town effect for Oswestry

Campaigners have warned Oswestry could become a 'dormitory for commuters' under Shropshire Council development plans.

Members of the Oswestry 21 campaign group say the unitary authority has not identified enough employment land in its SAMDev development proposals. Consultation on the SAMDev proposals, which will govern how the county develops until 2026, ends on Friday.

But Peter Lloyd from Oswestry 21 warned residents, especially young people, will be forced to live in 'continued poverty' if local employment land is not identified and developed.

His views echo those of Oswestry town councillors who on Monday urged Shropshire Council to identify more employment land in the SAMDev document.

Mr Lloyd said: "Targets set by both Shropshire and town councils mean the amount of housing in Oswestry should grow by a third in 15 years.

"2,600 houses will be added to the current 8,000 by 2026.

"But employment land, providing jobs for the occupants of all those new homes, has not been identified.

"Only one third of the 35 hectares Shropshire Council believes is necessary has become available while the town council believes the 35 hectare figure is inadequate, and that the town actually needs 40 to 45 hectares.

"The failure to secure enough land for industry not only damages the town's economy, it also means continued poverty for the many young local people too poor to afford transport.

"And it means that, if additional houses are built, Oswestry will be largely a dormitory for commuters.

"Its economy will become even more vulnerable to volatile fuel prices.

"As Oswestry Town Council says in a document about the plan, how can the public be expected to support their ambitious aims for expansion, when the absence of employment provision makes the housing element of the plan unsustainable?"