Whitchurch petition against plan for 300 homes

About 150 people have signed a petition opposing controversial plans to build 300 homes in Whitchurch.

The petition has been launched by a group of residents who are objecting to plans to create the houses off Wrexham Road. Campaigners have described the road the houses would be built off as 'treacherous' and fear it won't be able to cope with extra vehicles.

The petition was launched on the day a public exhibition was held in Whitchurch Civic Centre, which gave people the chance to view the plans.

A committee of about six residents has now been set up and members have been going around the town collecting signatures.

Committee members believe a suitable alternative for the new homes would be land off Tilstock Road.

Simon Lyon, a committee member, said: "I wouldn't like to put an exact figure on it, but I would have thought we have about 150 signatures.

"We would like a few hundred.

"About six to seven people have set-up a committee and we have been going around door to door collecting signatures.

"It's a slow process. Some people don't even know about the plans so we have to spend some time telling them what its about.

"After we have spoken to them everyone seems to be against it. We are not happy about the plans. We hope it can be knocked on the head.

"I hope the council will leave this one and look at sites which are not so much of a problem.

"No one seems to have major objections to Tilstock Road."

Don Pearce, who lives in Wrexham Road and is one of the residents behind the petition, said residents already park on Wrexham Road and introducing another 700 to 800 cars will make it 'treacherous'.

The development is part of Shropshire Council's Site Allocation and Management Development Plan – also known as SAMDev. A formal planning application has yet to be submitted.

Developers say the scheme will provide a sustainable, phased extension to the town, which will include public open space and allotments, affordable housing, community benefits and highway improvements to Wrexham Road.