Meeting called amid Shropshire village homes fears

Residents in Prees fear the plans would affect the "uniqueness" of the area and could see the village resembling a small town - despite developers Hawk Homes Ltd claiming the plans would meet a local need.

Members of Prees Parish Council have called an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to discuss the plans for land off Whitchurch Road in the village, and are encouraging residents to attend and give their views.

If approved, it is hoped the care home would bring 75 part-time jobs and 30 full-time roles.

Two separate applications have been submitted for the site. The first phase of development proposes 31 homes off Whitchurch Road, and the second phase details a 70 bed care home, a baptist church and eight bungalows.

The plans have so far received a mixed response.

Lisa Jones said she objects to the plans which could over-develop the area, and asked councillors to "keep our village as a village".

She said: ""We have a large number of houses in the village, both large and small, which have been up for sale for years and have not sold - I am at a loss as to why we need 31 more.

"Prees is a village. This amount of new housing is spoiling the uniqueness of the village and turning it into a town."

Many have also highlighted the potential strain it could put on the drainage systems in the village, as well as the local schools and doctors surgery.

But Philip Hodges, who lives opposite the proposed site, said that while he hopes trees would be planted to encourage privacy, the plans appear to have taken into account the setting of the village.

Developers have said that the plans "respond to a variety of needs and uses" and that employment will be provided through the care home as well as the local construction companies.

The care home would be run by Springcare, which has 15 care and nursing homes around Shropshire, and would specialise in dementia care.

The church would be paid for by The Church Group, which runs the current church in the village and wants to create an improved base.

Lesley Rumney, parish council clerk, said: "The council have an open mind about this at the moment and we really hope people will come and tell us what they think about it.

"We want people to tell us one way or the other, not just if they object to it. If people are in support of this site we need to know that too."

Tuesday's meeting will be held at Prees Village Hall and will start at 7.15pm.