Roads fear for new housing
Building more than 750 new homes in eastern Oswestry could put too much pressure on local roads.
Town councillors say while more housing is needed in the town, developers must ensure they have in place the necessary infrastructure including access roads.
Oswestry Town Council debated two planning applications at its meeting on Monday, one for up to 600 homes on land to the north of Shrewsbury Road, the second for up to 150 homes on adjoining land to the south of Middleton Road.
Councillor Chris Schofield said: "We need new housing in Oswestry, people are crying out to get onto the housing ladder."
However while not objecting to the applications several councillors expressed concern about the pressure on local roads, particularly on Middleton Road.
Speaking about the smaller application town and county Councillor Clare Aspinall said Middleton Road could not take the extra traffic.
"Shropshire Highways officers have said that Middleton Road would not take the traffic," she said.
"College Road could not carry it and Cabin Lane needs some form of traffic management. There is real community concern about the pressure on local roads, particularly Middleton Road."
Councillor Peter Cherrington said creating rat runs were always a problem in developments while Councillor John Pryce said it was the duty of the developer to ensure that the correct infrastructure was in place.
"It seems that traffic from 600 homes will access the development from the Shrewsbury Road which already has the college, leisure centre, cattle market and roads leading to the industrial estate on it. It is not going to be easy to accommodate the extra traffic."
Speaking on both developments, Councillor Duncan Kerr said there had to be sustainable transport plans including cycle routes and public transport.
"Affordable housing must be integrated and not plonked on the edge of the development," he said.
