Concern growing over plans for 1,600 Shifnal homes says mayor
The mayor of Shifnal warned today that there was growing concern over plans that could see 1,600 homes built in the town over the next 13 years.
Councillor Mark Mountford has said that a recent meeting of the local joint committee and a public consultation with Shropshire Council were both dominated by concerns over development.
Under Shropshire Council's draft plans, known as SAMDev, Shifnal's population could increase by 60 per cent by 2026.
Councillor Mountford said: "Having attended both the meetings at the village hall this week, it is obvious residents are getting increasingly concerned at the growing numbers being added to the development sites."
Now the town council is to distribute a Shropshire Council questionnaire to households to get local opinions on the plans.
Public consultation ends on August 23, but the town council has until early September to respond.
Councillor Mountford said: "This week we have taken the decision to print the questionnaire off and deliver it to as many people in Shifnal as we can.
"Councillors will be delivering it to their own ward members and the response will help the council formulate its response to the SAMDev draft. The 1,600 figure is not set in stone. That is what this current consultation period is for."
He was speaking after a public meeting last week to discuss groups of residents working alongside both Shropshire Council and Shifnal Town Council to shape the future of the town.
But Friday's meeting was dominated by concerns over housing. Residents posed questions to a panel including Shropshire Councillor Stuart West and Helen Howie, the authority's principal policy officer.
Resident Jenny Johnson said: "If this is a public consultation, I would like a show of hands of who thinks the town would be improved by extra housing."
Another resident said: "We're not afraid of development, but the speed that's being talked about is unrealistic.
"How many houses do we need? The vast majority of people in Shifnal do not want this massive development of 1,600 homes."
Another resident said: "Shifnal is due to increase by more than 50 per cent. Are any other market towns due to increase by this much?"
But Ms Howie said: "We are still in the middle of consultation. The plan has not yet been finalised. No decision has yet been made."
But she added: "These developments can allow Shifnal to up its game to become a vibrant town. It has been proposed that Shifnal could take more development. It has been said that, after 20 years under Bridgnorth District Council, development has had a lid on it and now it is our chance to catch up.
"If the final decision is that that isn't the case, then we will undergo more discussion."
