Whitchurch auction sales application backed by council

North Shropshire is to get a jobs boost after plans to hold specialist auction sales several times a year were approved by planning officers.

Shropshire Council has given the go-ahead for a temporary auction site at Prees Storage Ltd, Whitchurch Road, Whitchurch.

Under proposals, specialist auction sales would be held up to four times a year which would create 15 part-time jobs.

A design and access statement on behalf of the applicant says the application is a temporary one to enable the local authority to monitor the impact that the proposal will have on the site.

The normal sales process starts at 10am with the sale of skips and site offices. At 11am, the sale of lorries begins and at 1pm the sale of general plant takes place.

The design and access statement says: "The auction periods requested will be a maximum of four auctions per year for two years with a staff of 15 on site.

"All 15 people shall work the sales day as marshals for the site between 7am and 7pm. Three people shall be on clean up duty over a 10-day period between 7am and 7pm.

"The existing road network and access to the site is capable of dealing with any additional traffic that this proposal shall develop and the site can easily accommodate on-site parking. This proposal shall not adversely affect the adjoining heath land and its inhabitants or the surrounding area."

A report on behalf of the council says: "The local planning authority considered that the proposed auction use of the site is unlikely to have a detrimental impact on the environmentally sensitive area, amenities of neighbours and the safety of highway users."

Temporary permission would enable the council to monitor the impact.