‘Disaster’ warning on new homes near Oswestry
Additional homes being added to the drainage network near Oswestry could end in “disaster”.
The warning was made by a local resident as Chartland Homes seeks permission to lift pre-development conditions on its 27-home development off Artillery Road, Park Hall.
These include submitting proposed surface and foul water drainage systems, which must be approved by Shropshire Council.
Rob Watkins voiced concerns on the impact of sending an increased quantity of sewage from Meadow View onwards.
He said: “The foul sewer currently runs from Meadow View to the culvert under the railway embankment and then proceeds to Whittington Castle.
“Local residents are well aware that in sustained wet weather the culvert beneath the railway is not wide enough to cope and blocking back occurs to Artillery Road and Inglis Road.
“A sewage lake also forms at the culvert and in the winters of 2013 and 2014 this was 50 meters across.”
Mr Watkins said a local resident employed by Severn Trent has told residents further work must be undertaken before any more homes are connected, adding: “Failure to do so will be a disaster.”
Whittington Parish Council had no comment to make on the application, but reiterated concerns raised to them by an unnamed resident.
The resident had asked if the council would object to the plan and request that changes are made before further development takes place.
Once approved, the proposed drainage must be implemented before the first occupation of the development.
The current application also requests the completion of a site investigation report.
Concerns have been raised that this should have been signed off before work on the site began.
The outline application for the development was approved in August 2014 with reserved matters receiving the green light in November 2017.
Work began earlier this year, but stalled after two bomb shells from the Second World War were discovered on the site within two weeks in June.
By Emily Lloyd, Local Democracy Reporter
