300 million-year-old stones caught between a rock and a hard place at Shropshire estate
Granite rocks which have been labelled dangerous at the entrance to a new Shropshire housing estate will not be removed for the time being.
Residents at The Wintles, in Bishop's Castle, are trying to stop Shropshire Council from demolishing the 300 million-year-old stones. The rocks were transported from Cornwall and installed while the development was still being completed 10 years ago.
Work on The Wintles began at the start of the Millennium but was halted when the developer went into administration in 2008.
The plot was taken on by Cavendish & Gloucester and the council agreed to adopt the estate road once the project was nearing completion.
The final house is due to be completed soon, which has prompted the council to begin work on the roads – telling residents the stones must go.
But resident Andrew Wood said: "The council's highways department has been in contact and confirmed the stones will not be demolished until further discussion.
"But I would like to see some sort of compromise because we cannot see why these rocks, which have stood here for 10 years, are now suddenly a maintenance issue. We've also been told it's a health and safety issue because they could fall on someone, something we find unlikely as they have been there for so long."
Gareth Proffitt, a spokesman for Shropshire Council, said: "In response to concerns raised we have contacted the contractor's site manager and have received written confirmation that the stones will not be removed until further consideration has been given to how best to move forward.
"We will be working with the developer and residents' groups over the next few weeks to find a resolution to the matter."
