40-Bed motel plan outlined

Plans were today unveiled to build a 40-bedroom motel and cafe on the edge of a north Shropshire town creating jobs in the area and boosting tourism.

An application to build the motel at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, looks set to be given the go-ahead by members of Shropshire Council.

Applicant Arthur Bevan has applied for outline permission to build the motel and is also seeking approval for a new access road to the site near the A41/A53 roundabout.

It is not yet known exactly how much the motel would cost to build or how many jobs would be created, and no decision has been made about who the operators would be.

The plans were today welcomed by Market Drayton's mayor, Councillor Roy Aldcroft.

He said: "Certainly Market Drayton could do with a good size hotel, and an increase in accommodation available for tourists, particularly when you think we are trying to encourage tourism in the area – if there's nowhere for anyone to stay they won't come. I would welcome an extra 40 beds."

Members of Shropshire Council's north area regulatory committee are being recommended to grant permission for the motel when they discuss the application on September 15.

A report to members says: "At this stage the applicant only wants to obtain consent for the principle of the development and the proposed method of access into the site."

Shaun Jones, planning agent for Halls in Shrewsbury, who are representing Mr Bevan, said jobs would be created if plans were given the go-ahead but he did not know how many.

He was unable to say if the motel would be independent or run as part of a national chain.

He said: "It would create jobs, there's no doubt about it. We can't specify who would operate it because we simply don't know.

"It's just an outline planning application to establish the scheme in principle."

Five letters of objection have been received by Shropshire Council.

Moreton Say Parish Council has also objected.

By Deborah Collins