Residents plan action group to fight Shropshire lorries threat

More than 50 people braved the wet weather to meet in Wem and discuss their next move against the plans by Taylor Wimpey.

The company will be building a housing development off Windmill Meadow and the lorries will transport the materials needed for the building work.

The plans have left residents horrified and they say the peace and safety of people in Fismes Way and Windmill Meadow will be under serious threat.

Taylor Wimpey said there was no other practical route to access the site, but it understood the residents' frustration.

Residents, who are calling on the company to rethink the plans, were armed with placards when they met at the entrance to the proposed development site.

Kerry David Foster, of Windmill Meadow, organised the meeting for residents to discuss the planned journeys, which are due to start in the next couple of weeks.

He said: "We reject outright its assessment that there is no alternative to their plan. We were assured that Fismes Way and Windmill Meadow would not be used for infrastructure operations on their latest development phase."

He said every house along Fismes Way and Windmill Meadow will have to contend with heavy eight-wheeler wagons passing their front doors over a 20-week period.

Chris Mellings, Shropshire councillor for Wem, said he would try to organise a meeting between Taylor Wimpey, planners and highways officials at the council.

Mr Foster added: "We will wait and see how Chris gets on. If we are not happy with what Taylor Wimpey decides to do then we should form an action group to decide what we are going to do. We have got some way to go."

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said all drivers will be instructed not to exceed a speed limit of 10mph and all heavy traffic will be only be allowed to access the site Monday to Fridays, between 9am and 4pm.