Housing plan hold-up

The planning application is for land to the south of Middleton Road in Oswestry and is part of a bigger piece of land designated for housing - the sustainable urban extension.

Local residents fear the extra cars generated will clog up nearby streets.

Shropshire Council was hoping to hear Highways England's views on transport and the proposed development before arranging a meeting to debate whether to grant planning permission.

But a letter from Highways England has called on the council to hold fire, until it receives a transport assessment.

In a report to the planning department Graham Broome from Highways England says pre-application discussions with the developers made it clear that a Transport Assessment would be needed particularly in reference to the effect of the housing on the A5.

He said that one had only just been received and, while it did include works to the Oswestry exit off the Mile End to allow for the extra traffic, there were still questions that needed answering.

Mr Broome called for a postponement of any decision for three months.

Resident Sue Stewart has written to Shropshire Council saying that while developers say a new spine road will be used by those living in the new homes drivers will still use the Middleton Road and Cabin Lane alternative. This, she says, will turn nearby residential roads such as Aston Way and Prince Charles Road into rat runs.

“There are already restrictions and a one-way section already in place in Middleton Road.”

Mrs Stewart said many drivers looked to avoid the section of Cabin Lane that has speed humps by using the smaller, residential roads.

She says she believes that the estate will put far more cars onto the roads than forecast.

Earlier this year the Government awarded a £9.3 million grant to Shropshire Council for improvement work to both the Mile End and the Whittington Roundabouts to accommodated extra traffic generated by the sustainable urban extension to Oswestry. The funding will also go towards building the new Shrewsbury Road roundabout and a bridge from the new developments to a proposed Innovation park for new businesses for town.

Shropshire Council will consider the planning application for the 150 homes at a future date.