Majority votes to support controversial Telford children’s home plan

Much of the debate among councillors was about what could be done to protect the next door neighbour in Pemberton Road, Admaston, who is “already in distress” at the prospect.

The application was put to a committee to decide the issue after 38 objections were made by members of the public.

Councillor Kim Tonks (Liberal Democrats, Admaston & Bratton) told her colleagues that she was representing a “number of residents” of the road and has concerns about parking and traffic.

The councillor said there was a “risk of harm” to the neighbour was is “already in distress”.

“It will be a 24 hour occupation but there has been no acoustic assessment. I do not believe it should go ahead without this.”

Applicant Henry Buckley, director of Turnstone Residential Ltd, told Wednesday’s meeting of the Telford & Wrekin Council planning committee that the concerns are at the “forefront of our plan.”

But he added that the care facility for up to three children between the ages of seven and 17 “should not cause any issues”.

“The children will be pretty much ready to go back into homes.

“We are totally willing to do some sound proofing.”

But he added that there is a huge need for such homes in the community.

“There are 180,000 homeless children in temporary accommodation in the UK,” he said.

“The fostering system is on the brink of collapse, it is a dire situation,” he added. Labour councillor Giles Luter (Ercall) responded saying he supports a government announcement on expanding fostering and rejected Mr Buckley’s stance.

Councillor Peter Scott (Independent, Newport West), said he was against semi detached houses being used as children’s homes because of the potential impact on the neighbours and in favour of the use of detached homes instead.

“It’s wrong to use semi detached properties because it brings more concern in the neighbourhood. I would like to see use considering detached homes, not semi-detached.”

Councillor Arnold England (Labour, Brookside) said he agreed that “ideally they should be in detached homes” but he supports them in communities.

“I grew up in children’s homes and worked in children’s homes,” he said.

“We should not jump about and say we do not want children here.”

He added that noise reduction needs to be in place.

Councillor Thomas Janke (Liberal Democrats, Newport South) said it needed an “independent acoustic assessment” and called for the issue to be deferred.

Councillor Nigel Dugmore (Conservative, Muxton) said proposed noise conditions sounded “a bit woolly” and car parking “isn’t adequate.”

Planning officers said conditions on noise “would comply with legislation” and would be in place before children moved in.

The committee was told that highways officials considered that three parking spaces on site would be enough for the maximum of three staff.

And occasional visitors parking on the road was acceptable as it would be similar if the property continued as a residential dwelling.

The committee voted by seven votes to three to give the proposal planning permission subject to conditions.