People in Eccleshall took part in a three-mile walk today to raise awareness about planned housing developments in the area.
The route went along local roads and footpaths, passing sites where new homes could be built. Photos taken by photographer Ian Knight of Z70 Photography shows the community coming together to stand up for ‘protection and restoration’ in the town.
The walk, which was part of a UK-wide Day of Action on today (April 18), started from the roundabout at Stone Road, the walk proceed down the High Street to Kerry Lane and then via Shaws Lane, Cross Butts, Newport Road, Green Lane, Stafford Road and Blurtons Lane.
It was also the start of a day of national action for communities across the country showed their support for protecting nature and green spaces ahead of the May local elections.
Campaign group Save Eccleshall says developers want to build more than 1,000 homes in and around the town. The group claims they are not against building new homes, but believes the plans are too large and could put pressure on local services and the environment.
The website states: “Developers are proposing over one thousand new homes in and around Eccleshall — far beyond what our infrastructure, environment, and services can support. We are not against sustainable development — but these plans are excessive, disjointed, and driven by profit, not local need.”
Residents fear the historic country market town could almost double in size over the coming years due to the level of proposed housebuilding across 10 separate sites.
Group member and Eccleshall businessman Martin Peet told the Local Democracy Reporting Service ahead of the event: "There are currently over 106 of these walks planned nationwide, each bringing together local communities who feel that the current planning direction is turning 'green into grey' at an unprecedented pace.
“As part of this national campaign, each group will be taking a photograph during their walk to send to the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to demonstrate the strength of feeling across the country.
"This is not just a local issue — it is part of a much wider national concern about planning policy, infrastructure strain, and the long-term protection of our rural landscapes."
Take a look at 34 photos taken at the event below.
