Fear new homes will lead to traffic chaos

Members of Oswestry Rural Parish Council say they fear the plans for 69 new houses, including nine affordable homes, at Morda near Oswestry will create traffic problems and argue that the proposed site is outside the village boundary.

The council lodged its objection in response to a planning application for outline approval by applicants Mr and Mrs Hughes, of Llawrypant, Selattyn.

The couple want to build the new houses on land at Weston Road in Morda.

They say their plans will help address the lack of affordable homes and will also help meet Shropshire five-year housing supply targets.

The plans follow approval of a separate planning application to build 21 homes in the area by Severnside Housing group.

Although the 69-home plans will include a £440,000 payment for community infrastructure improvements, members of Oswestry Rural Parish Council say they are unacceptable.

In their objection to Shropshire Council, the parish councillors say: "The development sits outside the existing village boundary and the council decided not to support any building developments until after they have consulted with its local community to determine future need and development scale.

"This council also objected to the affordable housing of 21 houses on a nearby site but the application was allowed anyway.

"Morda has seen large scale development in recent years increasing traffic movement and with Weston Road and Kingfisher Way as the main access routes for this development the situation will become worse.

"Weston Road is an unclassified lane with no pavements and is already a busy commuter route to access the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate. pedestrians, bike riders, walkers and many cars already use it at their peril.

"Kingfisher Way is at present a very quiet residential area but with the increased traffic from 60 plus houses it will become a rat run from Morda Bank to Weston Road.

"There is also a safety factor with the suggestion regarding routing of a footpath through the village hall car park to St Annes Drive.

"There is very often a full car park and this will be a danger to pedestrians crossing it.

"Morda School is already full to capacity so where will the children from this large estate go to school?"

Several Morda residents have also written to Shropshire Council with their objections

Shropshire Council hope to made a decision on the application by July 12.