Residents to protest 'behind closed doors' housing decision at council offices

Local people recently discovered controversial plans to build 25 homes off Roden Grove in Wem were given the go-ahead by Shropshire Council.

This prompted an angry response by those who believe the application should have been heard at a full planning committee instead of being approved by planning officers using delegated powers.

Mike Sargeant, whose house backs onto Roden Grove, said: "A planning committee consists of a number of people with different political persuasions and they talk about each application's merits and problems.

"That is democracy.

"When you get applications decided behind closed doors at worst you can have only one political persuasion – if that is the same as the applicant that is not democracy.

"We want a site visit from the planning committee so they can see how unsuitable the roads are. The roads will not be able to take that amount of traffic. They were built in the 1960s intended for minimal traffic as not many people had cars then.

"The field is behind us is part of a flood plain. There were 450 signatures against the development.

"The fact this has been settled out of committee is not right. It has been pushed through without listening to us."

Developers Berrys deny that the site is in a flood zone and say building there will not have any effect on other properties.

Maria Jones, spokeswoman for Shropshire Council, said: "Approval by the planning officer has been granted subject to completion of a S106 Agreement. At this stage therefore the decision has not been formally issued."

The demonstration will be held outside Shirehall in Shrewsbury tomorrow at 10.30am.

A bus has been booked to run from Eckford Park to Shirehall at 10am.

To book a place, call 01939 232091. Organisers have asked residents to bring a homemade placard.