Extra time plea over Shrewsbury homes plans fails
A bid to give people more time to comment on controversial plans to build 750 homes, shops and a business park on green belt land on the outskirts of Shrewsbury has failed – despite more than 1,000 people supporting the appeal.
Members of Shrewsbury West Residents Association wanted people to have an extra 16 weeks to have a say on the plans for the redevelopment of land between Oxon and Churncote.
They claimed people had only been given four weeks to comment on the plans during the summer holidays when many were away, and had gained 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for an extension.
But their pleas fell on deaf ears at a Shropshire Council cabinet meeting yesterday, when members ruled no extension was needed. Campaigners claim the council is not acting in the interests of the community it serves.
Jan Bevan, representing the residents' group at the meeting, said: "It is the fear of many of us, that our council is increasingly being run by an elite group of decision makers, working in relative isolation from the community it should be representing, preferring to listen to and work with a small band of developers, agents and landowners.
"A four-week consultation concerning the proposed Shrewsbury West Sustainable Urban Extension Masterplan was held during the recent summer holidays. A petition containing more than 1,000 resident signatures was presented to Shropshire Council requesting a 16-week extension to the consultation period. This was refused."
Councillor Mal Price, portfolio holder for planning, housing and commissioning, said: "This has been going on for the past four years. No extension to the consultation period is needed. We have already agreed a further five weeks on top of the original four."
