Decision deferred by planners

A decision over the future of a piece of land in Wem has been deferred by councillors. The land, known as Bridgefields, is owned by Wem town councillor Gerald Smith.

It is at the centre of a wrangle as residents are looking to register it as a town green.

Shropshire County Council's planning committee was set to discuss the issue at a meeting at Shirehall, Shrewsbury, on Tuesday but deferred it due to new legislation which is being brought in.

The committee had been recommended by council planning officer Richard Thomas to draft in a barrister to act as an inspector to look at the site and help the authority to resolve the issue.

But at yesterday's planning meeting members were told that new regulations were being brought into force from April 6 so they decided to wait until then.

The changes will see the Commons Act 2006 brought in and Section 15 relates to the registration of new town or village greens.

The item will be put on a future planning committee agenda.

The wrangle came about after resident Patricia Haycocks put in an application claiming the land has been used as a right of way by Wem people for lawful sports and pastimes for at least two decades and as a town green since the 1970s.

However, Councillor Smith has objected through his solicitors as he owns the site and feels the application to register it should be thrown out.

In a report to the meeting Mr Thomas said: "As both the applicant and objector feel they have a strong case the council must arrange for the details to be properly investigated."