MP warning over plans for hundreds of Newport homes

Hundreds of new houses in Newport could damage the town's infrastructure for decades to come, Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard warned today.

Mr Pritchard believes that plans for mass development could have severe consequences for existing homes and amenities in the area. And the Tory MP has urged Telford & Wrekin Council to listen to the worries of some residents and put a stop to the developments.

"The locations, speed, and scale of residential development in Newport is far more than the town's infrastructure can deal with and runs contrary to public opinion," he said.

"The large number of houses being pushed through by Telford & Wrekin Council will have a detrimental impact on existing homes and amenities and could be felt for decades. The plans need to be completely re-thought."

Plans for about 285 houses in Wellington Road were given the go-ahead by Telford & Wrekin Council earlier this month.

That decision has been met with anger from some residents and The Save Newport Campaign Group.

There are further plans for 215 houses on land north of Audley Avenue as well as 350 houses in Station Road.

The Save Newport Campaign Group claims that it has carried out investigative work that suggests that the town's sewage and electricity supplies will not cope with a boom in the population.

There are also concerns about how doctors' surgeries and schools will deal with the influx.

Mr Pritchard added: "Telford & Wrekin Council cannot ignore local residents.

"It is bulldozing through public opinion as well as agricultural land."

A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said that all the authority could do was consider applications on merit as and when they were put forward by developers.