Neighbours unite to fight 330 homes bid for Wellington
The historic market town of Wellington won't cope if plans for 330 new homes on farmland get the go-ahead, councillors have been told.
More than 30 people crammed into Wellington Town Council's planning meeting yesterday to show their opposition to plans by Gladman Developments for 330 homes off Haygate Road.
The land, part of the Orleton Park estate, actually falls largely within the Wrockwardine parish but Wellington councillors have been asked to comment because the impact would mainly be felt in the town.
The town council's planning committee agreed unanimously to object to the plans on the grounds of policy, the fact the site is not included in any local plan, traffic problems, layout and density of the homes and the effect on the historic setting and on the character of the area.
The final decision on the planning application will be made by Telford & Wrekin Council.
Mr Mike White, who was speaking on behalf of the Haygate View Residents' Group, said more than 100 people had now joined the group.
He said: "This is inappropriate because it is being led by speculative development.
"Feelings are very strong. We are calling on this council to object to this application."
Councillor Roger Aveley said: "If we look at infrastructure there has got to be a lot of work done by the people who are building these houses to get it up to scratch.
"It's 330 houses – multiply that by a minimum of three and it will give you some indication of the number of cars going in and out of there, without delivery vehicles and visitors."
Councillor Dorothy Roberts said: "My greatest concern is that this is not in any form of plan we have been given.
"When they devise these long term plans they are put out to consultation and people can look at what the overall plan is.
"We have had no such discussion about this particular site. We have a plan come to us of this magnitude without it ever being discussed before, it is totally inappropriate."
Councillor Joan Gorse said the traffic created by such a big development would cause huge problems. She added: "Haygate Road is totally the wrong place for any access to any development at all."
Mr White had earlier told the council that an impromptu traffic survey by a member of the campaign group had counted 450 vehicles in an hour last Wednesday – in one direction of Haygate Road only.
Consultation on the plans ends on January 23.
The Save Haygate Fields campaign's online petition is at http://savehaygatefields.wordpress.com
