Land developer under fire from Market Drayton protesters

Gladman Developments Limited, which is hoping to build 162 houses off Rush Lane in Market Drayton, held a drop-in session on Wednesday to show how they were addressing residents' concerns.

But residents said they were given too little notice of the event and as a result a number of people were unable to attend.

A statement from community group Friends of Rush Lane said: "This is is far too short of notice as it is known by the land owner that the most of the residents of Rush Lane are away.

Concerns

"This meeting needs to be rescheduled allowing the residents, who this development will seriously affect, to attend this meeting and be allowed to discuss their concerns with Gladman."

Laurie Lane, planning manager of Gladman Developments Limited, said the letters had been sent out over a few days.

He said the company had sent out over 700 letters, but admitted that some had only arrived the day before the drop-in.

"But people should not be worried this is only a mini-consultation to show the potential solutions to issues that have been raised. All the information is available in the letter, and this isn't an opportunity for their ideas and concerns as we've already had a proper consultation period early on."

Among the issues addressed at the drop-in session were town councillors' fears that the lane, currently a single bridleway, could be misused as a "rat run'"

Developers say this could be avoided by using electronically controlled metal bollards or road restrictions with a very tight turn.

But neighbours said their concerns were not being addressed. Ian Woods, of Adderley Road, said: "I think it is going to ruin a really nice area.

"There are plenty of other sites that have already been used as industrial sites or other things that could be better. There's talk about re-routing a public footpath that I'm not happy about."