Telford retirement park residents fight housing plans
More than 60 residents of a Telford retirement park fighting any plans to build housing developments around them have held emergency talks with council chiefs.
People in Breton Park met Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota and other senior councillors and officers at the complex to voice their concerns.
The Park Homes development in Muxton comprises 93 bungalows for people over the age of 55 and residents fear three separate, possible developments could swamp their community if given they ever materialised.
The developments are outlined in the council's Shaping Places document, a blueprint aimed at increasing the number of homes in Telford & Wrekin to meet Government targets.
Their concerns centre on proposals in the document to build 106 houses in Wellington Road, Donnington, and the stated possibilities that Donnington Farm could take another 120 and land south of the A518 in Donnington could accommodate a further 615.
The deadline for public comments on Shaping Places ran out on June 10 and the authority says it will take into account all submissions from residents.
Breton Park is a Park Homes retirement village for people over the age of 55 and one resident at yesterday's meeting was 67-year-old Catrina(Corr) Mallard who has lived in the complex for 13 years.
She said: "We were really please Councillor Sahota brought other senior councillors and officers along with him to the meeting.
"There were at least 60 residents at the meeting and, bearing in mind some needed lifts to get there, it emphasises the strength of feeling there is at Breton Park.
"Councillor Sahota actually said that, personally, he was against building around Breton Park but he didn't think he would get his way.
"It appears he is behind us but we will have to wait now to see what the outcome of the Shaping Places plan is."
Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman Russell Griffin said: "Residents of Breton Park invited the leader of the council and other members and officers to meet with them to enable them to set out their concerns about the impact of possible developments, recognising the unique characteristics of their Park Homes site.
"Members listened to their concerns and, as far as they were able to, answered all their questions and undertook to ensure that the views of the residents of Breton Park will be taken into account during the next stage of the development plan.
"The particular characteristics of Park Homes will be considered when the next stage of the plan is prepared."
