'It is going to be another Dawley': Councillors call for 'more clarity' over 1,500-home Telford plans

A Telford parish council has joined a growing list of objectors to plans for a development including 1,500 homes.

Traffic and congestion topped a list of concerns for four councillors and two members of the public at a special meeting of Wrockwardine Parish Council yesterday (October 28).

The councillors voted by four votes to nil to lodge their objection to the Bratton Green proposals.

More than 100 objections have now been lodged on Telford & Wrekin Council's planning portal, with two supportive comments.

Councillor Kim Tonks called for a "really clear plan with regards to highways and transport".

"We need timescales, we can't have the road improvements happening afterwards.

"We need to look at the cumulative impact of this and other development.

"It is going to be a massive change for Bratton - it is going to be another Dawley.

"There will be disruption from construction over a long period of time. We need to have more clarity how it will be mitigated."

Councillor Stuart Parr said: "People are concerned over a large area."

He added that there are already traffic problems on Whitchurch Drive and from Shawbirch to Hortonwood.

He said: "The land has been allocated for housing so we can't stop it.

"All we can look at is damage limitation."

Council chair Paul Cooper said: "Traffic on the A442 will become unacceptable and people will find shortcuts."

Councillor Gareth Thomas said the two biggest subjects for him are education and highways.

A spokesperson for developer Bloor Homes said the findings of a forthcoming assessment of pedestrian, cycle, public transport and vehicle trips will be used to determine where mitigation measures may be required.

The spokesperson added that the possibility of flooding has been taken into account and the majority of the site is not subject to flood risk.

Councillor Tonks and other borough councillors in the area have organised a public meeting at Admaston House Community Centre from 7pm on November 23. Bloor Homes has been invited.

While comments on the council's planning website are due to close on Tuesday (November 3) Councillor Tonks said there will be "several more consultation opportunities over the next few months all the way up until a final decision is made”.

"We hope to see lots of residents there for a constructive discussion on the needs of our community in relation to this development," she posted on Facebook.

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