Revised Shropshire homes bid sparks fresh anger

People living in Wistanswick, near Market Drayton, have raised concerns that the proposal for nine homes could lead to overdevelopment and an increase in traffic problems.

The fresh concerns have been raised despite residents learning that the plans had been revised since a public meeting in May, including the number of homes being reduced from 11.

About 50 people attended a public meeting in Stoke-upon-Tern Village Hall last night to hear the new plans for land opposite the Red Lion pub. The planning consultancy firm working on behalf of the applicants said it had listened to residents' feedback at the May meeting and made several changes as a result.

As well as reducing the number of homes, these have included scrapping plans to improve the dangerous S-bend that exists near the site.

One resident said existing traffic goes up and down the road like a "race track" and is concerned that creating the homes could mean another 18 cars eventually using it.

Another resident said some new homes are "desired" but creating nine was too much to "ingest."

Councillor Peter Waters said: "I am confused. At the last open meeting the feedback we got was that people didn't want any development."

Councillor Carole Meade added: "The number of four-bedroom houses is greater than anything else. We need to be at a level where local people can afford to buy them. They should consider changing some to bungalows."

Planning consultant Nigel Thorns said: "We received a lot of feedback on the night of the public meeting in May. We went away and rethought a possible planning application. We have revised it two or three times since that meeting. At the moment we are looking at a plan for nine dwellings, so we have reduced the overall scheme from 11 to nine.

"We are still providing two affordable dwellings for local people, which will have two bedrooms. The remaining seven will be three-bedroom and four-bedroom.

"At the public meeting we were told improvements to the corner by the Red Lion were not a good idea. We thought it was but we have removed that element from the scheme.

"We have also reduced the number of houses to the rear of the site to two.

"The footpath bridleway which runs through the site now runs past the pond. The scheme will also include creating a new drainage system

"What we have tried to do is listen to what has been said. We want a scheme that fits the site."

He added a planning application had not yet been submitted to Shropshire Council.