Shifnal campaigners fear Shropshire's local plan bombshell will turn development focus back on the town

The inspectors, who are examining the authority's much-delayed local plan, have been so frustrated at perceived failings in the document that they have given officials until the end of January to come up with a plan to fix it within six months.

One of the central issues in the complaints is the planning inspectors' belief that Shropshire Council is not providing enough homes and employment sites to meet its stated ambitions.

Worryingly for Shifnal Matters, the planning inspectors' letter outlining their issues seems to suggest the Shifnal area could be targeted for further development.

That suggestion centres on Shropshire Council's own offer to provide 1,500 homes for Black Country (BC) councils, along with 30 hectares of employment land.

Shifnal has been earmarked to provide the employment allocation - but the inspectors have questioned the geographical choice of Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Tasley, as areas to provide the 1,500 homes.

The inspectors said: "From the evidence before us, it seems that there are sites around Shifnal and Albrighton, for example, that may well have the potential to meet the BC unmet housing needs in a location close to where the employment needs are being met, or on a new site that could accommodate both.

"These would be close to the BC where people migrating and commuting to Shropshire are likely to still have links they would wish to maintain."

Responding to the planning inspectors' letter, Tony Jemmett of Shifnal Matters said that the reality of the town was an area without infrastructure to accommodate significant fresh development.

He said: “Shifnal and the surrounding areas might look ideal on a map due to proximity of M54 but the reality is far from the ideal; historic roads are not suitable for significant increase in traffic that is verging on dangerous at peak times, doctors and education services are overworked and flooding issues in the areas that have been suggested for development are on the increase.”

He added: "Come and sit outside our primary schools at drop-off and pick-up times and view the mayhem that has already resulted in injuries of current pupils.

"Attempt to get a doctor's appointment at our overrun surgery, spending up to an hour trying to get through.

"Come and walk through our greenbelt land that's currently farmed and understand what Shifnal residences have to lose both in high-grade farming land and in a public right of way that thousands of our residents use."

A statement from Shifnal Matters questioned why the focus was not other locations - as well as brownfield sites.

It said: "There are other more appropriate sites with better access to the M54, including Telford only a five-minute drive away, a town built for the unmet needs of the Black Country yet to attain the target population it was set up for. 

"Areas around Shrewsbury have also been discounted as part of the plan process for no apparent reason - areas that have a much better infrastructure already in place for further development."

Mr Jemmett added: "Shropshire is an important rural country with significant high grade agricultural land, as a county and a country we can’t afford to lose such good quality farming land to development.

"It’s utter madness. Where’s the impetus to make use of brownfield sites? I thought it was supposed to be brownfield first, not unnecessary destruction of the greenbelt!"