Village attack new homes plan near Newport

They say the estate of 28 homes is the latest example of developers being allowed to destroy vital open space in the borough.

Planning officers have been accused of having one rule for tourist location Ironbridge and another for other areas.

A campaign group has been set up in Edgmond, near Newport, after it was revealed land off Shrewsbury Road is set to be developed. The application will add fuel to a political row over the future of house building in Telford & Wrekin.

Tory party leaders have blamed Labour councillors of "bulldozing" green field sites in the borough, saying they had allowed thousands of homes on green spaces.

But council leader Kuldip Sahota blames the Conservative-led Government for making it easier for developers to build on greenfield sites.

The Government has identified a need to find land for 4.4 million new homes in England and Wales by 2016. In Telford alone, 20,000 homes must go up in the next 17 years and the council is drawing up a five-year plan of potential sites.

Members of the Protect Heritage Edgmond group are displaying "Save Our Village" placards outside their homes.

They are also objecting to plans to build nine homes near the Grade II-listed Provost's House and The Old Stables.

And they today urged the borough's planning officers to protect development in Edgmond and other rural villages with equal priority to that applied to Ironbridge Gorge.

Seabridge Developments Limited has submitted the latest plans, which have been received but not yet registered. It was not available for comment.

Mike Turner, of Protect Heritage Edgmond, said: "There is no need to destroy a heritage conservation area. We want councillors to protect Telford and Shropshire with the same amount of priority they apply to the Ironbridge Gorge."