Angry reactions to plan for 300 Whitchurch homes

Residents have reacted angrily to proposals which could see 300 homes being built in Whitchurch and have raised fears about safety if the houses are built.

At a public consultation which was organised by developers Turley Associates at the Civic Centre yesterday, more than 25 people turned out to have their say in the first hour alone.

The proposed development is part of Shropshire Council's SAMDev planning scheme.

The homes are earmarked for land between Belton Road and Wrexham Road, but no plans have been submitted to Shropshire Council yet. Steven Cearns, who lives on Wrexham Road, said the town would not cope with 300 more homes.

He said: "We have enough shops, schools and infrastructure to cope with what we have got. If you start introducing new housing then doctors, the ambulance service and all the infrastructure is stretched.

"The people in these new homes will not be part of the town. They will drive off the bypass to their jobs and do their shopping elsewhere too."

Joyce Jones lives on Belton Road. She raised concerns about the safety of Wrexham Road if the proposals go ahead. She said: "The Wrexham Road is treacherous, there is a tremendous amount of traffic.

"There are no sustainable jobs here, we are meant to be keeping things in the town but these people will go out of the town."

Jon and Joy Ellison live on nearby Bathfields Crescent and said the proposals show 'nowhere near sufficient parking or other amenities.'

But Matthew Anderson, highways consultant and director of Corun Consultant Engineers said the proposals included traffic calming measures on Wrexham Road.

"The impact of this development is very low, there will be chicanes and parking bays that would alleviate any problems," he said.

He said the development would be sustainable, being within walking and cycling distance of the centre of Whitchurch.