Traffic, services and character fears as villagers object to plans for 160 new farmland homes

Telford & Wrekin Council is set to close its draft Local Plan consultation on Wednesday, and residents hope the scheme will be refused because of their objections.

Housing developer Bellway Homes has already expressed an interest in the agricultural land at The Dales site.

The housing developer has released a ‘vision document’ for a potential development which shows an access opposite Church Aston Primary School and another straight onto the A518.

Church Aston Parish Council have raised its objections to the scheme.

Vice-chairman of the parish council, Paul Evans, highlighted that over 1,000 homes have recently been built or with planning permission in the area straining local services.

“You get to a point where you have to draw a line, because the cumulative effect of this kind of development on local services and not least on the character of Church Aston. It gets to a point where you have to try and stop it,” said Councillor Evans.

“The development would add strain on already stretched services including schools and doctors.”

The council has raised objections on the basis of losing ‘prime’ agricultural land, the environmental, bio-diversity and ecological impact.

However, its main concern is about the proposed vehicle access and increased traffic onto The Dale – described as a ‘very narrow and busy road’ through the village.

Councillor Evans has highlighted that the 20mph speed limit road goes into a single-carriageway with no footpath before reaching the A518.

“That is used extensively by pedestrians and young families bringing their children to and from the village school,” he added.

“The increase in the volume of traffic over the last five years has been incredible. You then get a problem with speeding traffic.”

A recent traffic order has seen the 20mph limit extended and speed cushions are set to be implements along the single-lane carriageway to slow traffic.

“That road is now being used almost as a rat run as a shortcut onto the A518,” Councillor Evans added. “At peak times it’s horrendous, the idea that they’re going to build another 160 houses that will feed directly onto that road opposite the school is insanity.

The proposed access point comes out opposite the village school before going up a ramp onto an old railway bridge and Councillor Evans said to create the access the council fears developers could level the land out and take the bridge down.

There are also flooding concerns due part of the agricultural land containing a section where water naturally drains into and already floods into the gardens of adjacent properties

“People are responding and getting their objections in,” added Councillor Evans.

For more details on the draft Local Plan or to object visit: www.telfordandwrekinlocalplan.co.uk. The consultation finishes on January 31.