People power forces Shrewsbury homes talks rethink
People power has forced council chiefs to extend public consultation on plans for 750 new homes on the western edge of Shrewsbury.
Nearly 150 residents have signed an e-petition on Shropshire Council's website, claiming they were not "adequately notified" about plans for a major new development at Welshpool Road in Bicton Heath. It will include 750 homes and the building of a major link road between the A5 bypass and the Holyhead Road.
And now Shropshire Council has agreed to extend consultation on the draft masterplan by four weeks until September 6.
The plan also includes proposals for a new "business campus" off Clayton Way and the expansion of Oxon Business Park.
But some residents have hit out at the plans, branding them "ill-conceived" and claiming they have caused "distress" within the community.
Jan Bevan, a member of an action group set up to fight the plans, said: "Our most pressing concern is the lack of meaningful consultation. This massive development was presented to us as a 'done deal'.
"I and some of the others in the group have spent some time talking to local residents and I can say categorically that of those we have spoken to 99 per cent were completely unaware of the council's plan and the other one per cent had no idea of the scale of the development."
Mal Price, Shropshire Council cabinet member for planning, said: "The council welcomes the high level of interest in the consultation and I'm pleased to say that we have been able to extend the time period for comments as requested by local people.
"I would encourage any residents, businesses or other interested parties to consider the proposals and have their say before the deadline in September."
But Mrs Bevan said: "They have made a small concession and extended the deadline to September 6 but as they have made no meaningful effort to actually consult, particularly with harder to reach groups such as the elderly and the young, we have decided that we are going to continue with our petition."
She added that residents feared the development would destroy the area's rural setting.
"We are a semi-rural community, and this is the reason that most people chose to live here," she said.
"Every field and green space between the Shelton Water tower through to the A5 will be built on, completely ruining the western approach to Shrewsbury."
