Shropshire protesters cheer village housing decision
Shropshire campaigners are celebrating after a parish council withdrew its support for a plan that could have seen more homes built in their village.
Residents in Sutton-upon-Tern, near Market Drayton, were unhappy that the parish council had put forward Sutton Lane, Sydnall Lane and Tyrley for possible development as part of Shropshire Council's Site Allocation and Management Development Plan (SAMDev).
At the time, the parish council said it had been agreed that between 10 and 15 homes could be built across the sites.
Angry residents launched a petition and created banners in protest at the move.
But at a parish council meeting last week, councillors voted to withdraw the areas from SAMDev.
Rachel Dams, who helped launch the petition, said: "We were shocked by their decision but are absolutely delighted.
"We went along to the meeting and when it got to discussions about SAMDev three of the parish councillors left the room because of conflict of interests.The rest had the debate on the issue. It was so tense.
"They voted on whether they wanted to withdraw the area. Two councillors said, because of local objections, the council should withdraw it."
She added: "When they voted to withdraw it the whole room erupted into applause."
Mrs Dams added: "The next step is for the council to contact Shirehall and the planning inspector to inform them about the withdrawal."
Residents, who also voiced their concerns to MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson, had accused the council of not engaging with them.
In a previous statement the parish council said it said it had been agreed that between 10 and 15 homes could be build across the sites as part of SAMDev.
It also added SAMDev was in the final stages of adoption and alterations could not be made.
The parish council said it was unable to comment following the meeting, but Shropshire Council has said the SAMDev Plan is now in its submission form and any amendments can only be made where they concern minor matters.
