Land stability fears for Ironbridge Gorge planning
Parish councillors in the Ironbridge Gorge have raised concerns after finding out that planning applications in the area do not have to include information on land stability.
Members of The Gorge Parish Council said they discovered after looking through a number of planning applications that reports by Telford & Wrekin Council's geotechnical team were no longer a compulsory requirement.
Councillors told the meeting last night that they thought reports by the council's geotechnical team were essential for planning applications in the Gorge.
Ironbridge has a history of landslides and land instability, partially caused by the history of mining in the area.
In 2012 Jiggers Bank, one of the main roads into the Gorge, had to be closed for eight months following a landslide.
Currently, £80 million is being invested to stabilise Jackfield to maintain the structure of the Gorge and prevent future landslides.
Members of the council told the meeting held in the offices at Maws Craft Centre that they believed the geotechnical surveys had previously been a compulsory part of planning applications, but it was only after noticing their comments were not being included in planning applications that they contacted the geotechnical team who informed them they were not a statutory consultee on planning applications.
They added they had invited officers from Telford & Wrekin Council to attend one of their meetings but had received no reply.
Parish council chairman, Keith Osmund-Smith, said: "We have serious concerns if the geotechnical team is not being consulted on planning applications. Clearly our voice is not being heard. I don't like taking issue with the borough council but I think here they have let us down very badly."
Councillor Heather Oldershaw said: "I agree that, for the majority of developments in Telford it might not be necessary, but it is necessary in the Gorge."
Meanwhile, members of the council agreed to pay £3,000 to repair a path in one of the area's parks, after a woman was injured while walking. The council agreed to pay for the repairs for the pathway in Galleon Park, Ironbridge.
The path, which is 75 m long and 1m wide will be resurfaced and edged using the funds. It is currently managed by Telford & Wrekin Council's rights of way team.
A woman was believed to have injured her ankle after falling while walking on the path in recent weeks.
