Parish fights bid for Shropshire village expansion

About 80 local people packed into their village hall to hear plans for a two phase development at an Extraordinary Council meeting in Prees, near Whitchurch, last night

The first application proposes 31 houses off Whitchurch Road, and the second, a 70-bed specialist dementia care centre, a Baptist church and eight bungalows on adjacent land.

But parish councillors objected to both applications on the grounds of safety issues access to Whitchurch Road could cause, potential flood risks, the lack of need of a care home and opposition from local people.

Councillor Jonathan Smith said: "We also need to take into account the other plans for Prees.

"If all the plans go through, it would put considerable strain on the village, and at the end of the day Press is a village."

Councillor Joe Whelan added: "It could also cause detrimental effects to existing care centre businesses in the village."

Residents voiced their objections to the proposals, with concern over a potential traffic increase and the need for a large care home.

Julie Catterall, of Whitchurch Road said: "My husband's car has already been hit and mine has too by traffic flying through the village.

"The nursing home is a mad idea - you can't get the staff locally and it's going to cause traffic problems as will the homes.

"Prees is a village and needs to stay a village."

David Richards said: "The application says there is a station and good access to the village, but there are narrow footpaths, no street lighting and no car parking - this is a safety issue too."

Other residents highlighted the concern for potential flooding on the land.

Ron Morris of Mill Street said: "When there is extreme weather, my garden is always flooded.

"Something has to be addressed."

Also concerned about possible flooding, Barry Stokesman of Mill Brook, said: "If you pay for insurance, it says you're on a flood plain.

"You can't get insurance living on a flood plain."

But planning agent Nigel Thorns, of Nigel Thorns Planning Consultancy on behalf of Hawk Homes Ltd, said the area had been surveyed and the plans took into account nearby flood risks.

He said: "We have identified the areas at risk to flooding and drawn a line - the part we would be developing would be above the flood line.

"This site would not be a flood risk."

The care centre would be run by local company Springcare and planners suggest a mix of carers, nursing staff, and maintenance as well as kitchen and office staff would make a total of 105 new employees.

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

Along with the church will sit eight homes, including one affordable house, and a car park of 18 spaces.

Comments can be made on the Shropshire Council website.