Rival Tern Hill motel plan unveiled

Campaigners fighting controversial plans which have been approved for a motel in north Shropshire today unveiled their own "mirror image" scheme just yards away from the rival bid.

Keith Roberts has submitted an application to create a 40-bedroom motel near the A53 and A41 roundabout at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton.

A similar bid put forward by Arthur Bevan was given the go-ahead by Shropshire Council last year despite a petition signed by nearly 1,000 people, instigated by Mr Roberts.

Campaigners objected on the grounds of road safety, pollution, visual impact and fears a motel would take business from existing providers nearby.

Mr Roberts today said if a motel was to be created in the village, he would rather see it built on a different site to address the access concerns of Mr Bevan's application.

"We were against Mr Bevan's application and are still disappointed it was given the go-ahead by the council, ignoring the views of local residents and the parish council," he said.

"I still question the need for a motel in Tern Hill, but if the council thinks there is one then it should be on an appropriate site.

"Our application is for a site adjacent to the petrol station, further away from the roundabout.

"I am not sure a developer will want to build a motel in Tern Hill but if they did then at least they will have a choice."

Mr Bevan said: "It's a bit hypocritical of them to submit a similar application to the one they opposed.

"If that's what they want to do then fine but I probably won't bother objecting to it."

But Mr Roberts added: "Someone has called me hypocritical for submitting an application like the one I objected to last year but, in my view, it would have only been hypocritical if that scheme had been turned down."

A report on behalf of the applicant says: "The applicants have consulted with local residents close to the site and no-one has expressed any specific concern about the development."

People have until February 10 to comment on the new plans as part of the consultation.

By James Pugh