Council continues to push for housing near Oswestry hillfort to be scrapped

The council has again voiced its objections to housing plans close to Old Oswestry Hillfort as Shropshire Council reviews the county’s local plan.

Shropshire Council has reported a surplus in its five-year housing land supply, sparking hopes that plans for a housing estate near to the hillfort could be removed from the calculations.

The council objected to the allocation during the original SAMDev consultation, along with other local stakeholders, national heritage and environmental groups, and signatories of a petition now with 12,000 names.

Town councillors on the planning committee have agreed to write to Shropshire Council to maintain their opposition and ask planners to use the current SAMDev review to remove the controversial site.

Campaigners have welcomed the resolution as they continue to challenge any bid to build the homes.

The Hand off our Oswestry Hillfort (HOOOH) campaign and Oswestry Heritage Gateway group recently gave a presentation to the council, offering an alternative view of how the landscape north of Whittington Road and around the hillfort could be used as a positive driver for developing tourism.

Heritage expert, Tim Malim, outlined a vision not only to continue conservation efforts at Old Oswestry but also promote the monument as the hub of the town’s historic northern landscape.

The 3,000-year-old Iron Age hillfort is Shropshire’s most significant prehistoric site, with its archaeological importance compared to Stonehenge.

He said: “Surrounding the hillfort are many other fascinating historic sites, which can be connected as a focus for heritage and recreational tourism. Some are commercial enterprises, others have charitable status, while many are free to visit.

"Existing footpaths could be supplemented by new links, allowing visitors and walkers to flow into Oswestry and nearby attractions from this northern heritage gateway.”

Councillors were told that the project would help in supporting economic regeneration from tourism and historic assets emphasised in the Oswestry BID, the town’s application to become a Heritage Action Zone, and Shropshire Council’s economic and core strategies.

Mr Malim also updated councillors on new planning issues affecting the viability of housing development in the hillfort’s setting.

Mr Malim and group member Kate Clarke suggested that the hillfort and heritage gateway could be given dedicated space in the planned new tourist centre.

They also said that local volunteers working with English Heritage would be keen to explore ways of facilitating access to the site for disabled people and developing recreational initiatives for all parts of the community.

The hillfort groups have asked Oswestry Town Council if it would consider appointing a member to undertake a similar role, and are awaiting a response.