North Shropshire motel plan takes step forward

Potential developers of a 40-bedroom motel in north Shropshire now have two sites to choose from after the latest scheme was given the go-ahead by planning officers.

Keith Roberts won permission to create a motel near the A53 and A41 roundabout at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton.

A similar bid for a new motel, put forward by Arthur Bevan, on the opposite corner of the A53/A41 roundabout was given the go-ahead by Shropshire Council last year.

This was despite a near 1,000-name petition, instigated by Mr Roberts.

The latest application was granted permission by the unitary council's North Planning Committee in Wem yesterday.

Hannah Twells, a spokesman for Mr Roberts, said today: "We are delighted that the planning application to allow development of a motel has been approved.

"The access is much better than the other motel site and our site is well away from the River Tern, less visually intrusive and also more appropriately located next to the existing Tern Hill petrol station.

"This application would not have come forward if the earlier, very controversial motel application in 2009 had been refused. Approval of our site will now provide a better site for any developer that may come forward wishing to build a motel at Tern Hill," she said