Public meeting to fight Ludlow homes plans
A public meeting over plans for a controversial 137-home estate on the edge of Ludlow has been called, as the plans are set to go before the national planning inspector.
Ludlow residents are being encouraged to come forward if they want to speak at the four-day hearing, and next week's meeting has been set up to inform the public about what will happen and how to get involved.
Plans for the large-scale housing estate on 43 acres of land at Foldgate Farm, were refused planning permission in September, but developer Richborough Estates has appealed the decision.
The case will be heard at a planning inspector's inquiry at a date yet to be set.
Vivienne Parry, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, said officers and councillors were united against the proposal.
She said she had called the meeting at Ludlow Women's Centre on Church Street on Tuesday at 5.30pm to keep people informed of what was going on and what the process would be. She said: "If anyone would like to speak at the inquiry we will speak about what they have to do, and we will also talk about how planning inquiries go and generally what it is all about."
The Foldgate Farm housing plan was turned down by council officers before even getting to planning committee stage and the site is not one of those earmarked for houses in Shropshire Council's five-year plan – SAMDev – meaning it would put Ludlow well over the number of new houses it was supposed to have. There are fears the town would struggle to cope with the influx of people.
