Protesters point to lake on Shropshire homes plan site
A site earmarked for hundreds of homes on the outskirts of Shrewsbury has been partly covered by a small lake for the past two years, according to campaigners.
Up to 750 homes could be built on land off Welshpool Road in Bicton Heath, but residents believe the area is not suitable and another site should be found.
More than 1,000 people have have signed a petition opposing the plans, which are being considered by Shropshire Council.
Dave Kilby, chairman of Shropshire Playing Fields Association, said: "We are not objecting to houses being built. It's not that at all, we're not just digging our heals in for the sake of it. When the plans were announced we asked to extend the consultation period by 16 weeks.
"We got 1,000 signatures because there is a complete lack of social infrastructure. There has been a lake on that field for two years and nobody has ever explained to us how that problem will be solved."
Mr Kilby believes the lake, which stays during the summer months, may have been caused when an underground spring was disturbed. He said: "I don't know how these things work but this is a sizeable lake, it is not the houses themselves so much that is the problem."
Campaigners say they have raised their concerns with Shropshire Council but have not had a satisfactory response.
The council unveiled plans for 750 homes and the building of a major link road between the A5 bypass and the Holyhead Road in July last year.Proposals for the first phase of development were unveiled early last year.
