Developer to rethink plans for lorry use after Shropshire residents' protest

Residents of Fismes Way and Windmill Meadow, in Wem, were left horrified after receiving a letter from Taylor Wimpey saying lorries will be transporting material for building work down their road for 20 weeks.

The company will be building about 60 homes off Windmill Meadow and the lorries will transport the materials needed for the building work.

The plans left homeowners upset and they said the peace and safety of people will be under serious threat if the plans go ahead.

But in a change of events,Taylor Wimpey has said it will be looking at alternative access arrangements, although residents remain sceptical.

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: "In the light of concerns raised by local residents, we will review alternative access arrangements into the site prior to the commencement of earthwork movements.

"In the interim, some initial construction traffic will travel through Oakley Meadow."

However, Windmill Meadow resident, Kerry David Foster, said he was not convinced that their road will not be used.

He said: "Taylor Wimpey are still playing a very fast and ambiguous game and are certainly keeping all their options wide open.

"We are not home and dry and I think we have to remain exceedingly diligent in keeping pressure on Taylor Wimpey."

More than 50 people met at the weekend to discuss the planned journeys which were due to start this week. Residents were armed with placards when they met at the entrance to the proposed development site.

Present at the meeting was Chris Mellings, Shropshire Councillor for Wem, who said he would try to organise a meeting between Taylor Wimpey, planners and highways officials at Shropshire Council.

Mr Foster added: "I think that after the commencement of earthwork movements, Taylor Wimpey will resort to their ad hoc plan of using Windmill Meadow/Fismes Way.

"The above statement is highly ambiguous and in no way makes an honest and straightforward declaration that the company will comply with their own printed proposal."

The residents have now requested a document stating that no lorries will travel down their road during the construction period.