Shropshire Star

Backlash against bid to convert old Ellesmere station

Residents have hit out at plans to convert a former railway station building into apartments.

Published
Residents have hit out at plans to convert the Old Railway Station site in Ellesmere

The plans are part of a scheme from Homes England to build 58 houses on the Old Railway Station site in Brownlow Road, Ellesmere.

However, residents have hit out over possible traffic problems.

Mike Thompson, who lives next to the proposed development, said: "The main Fullwood traffic goes into the station yard so this means the traffic is going to double.

"It would like to see it developed but with a proper access. I'm not against development because it has been sat like that for years but it needs to be done properly with a different access point.

"It's going to cause issues on Brownlow Road if it isn't done properly."

A statement on behalf of the applicants has previously stated that the full planning application proposes to convert and restore the historic Grade II former station listed building into seven high quality apartments.

The outline planning application aims to provide high quality homes that meet local demand, according to developers.

The former Ellesmere train station was built in about 1860 and opened in 1863.

The Cambrian main line initially provided passenger and goods services running between Ellesmere and Whitchurch, eventually extending to Oswestry, Welshpool and further afield.

It was closed in 1965 as part of Dr Richard Beeching’s nationwide cuts to the railways.

Ellesmere Town Council has previously objected to the development of the site and concerns were raised over an increase in traffic on the road.

Fullwood, a manufacturer and supplier of milking systems based in Grange Road, Ellesmere, is also objecting to the proposals.

In a letter to Shropshire Council planning department, managing director Andrew Dodwell, raised a number of potential issues.

He said: “Over the next three years we will have received a significant investment from our shareholder to deliver accelerated growth plans. This will lead to increasing the work force by a third and therefore we are concerned that the access road planned is not adequate to meet the growing needs of our business.

“We anticipate the traffic flow of commercial staff vehicles will increase to the premises to facilitate this growth and this could be impacted by the proposed development and upon the likely homeowners’ wellbeing.”