Demand for Shropshire Council officials to attend homes meeting
Residents and councillors are demanding Shropshire Council officials attend a public meeting to explain their handling of a planning application for new homes which was approved without it ever being discussed in public.
The meeting has been called for by people in Wem who are unhappy that the council approved plans to create 25 homes in Roden Grove using delegated powers, rather than allowing it to be decided by its planning committee.
The application was met with a storm of opposition – but the unitary authority has always defended its decision and said correct procedures were carried out.
But Chris Mellings, a Shropshire councillor representing Wem, said the issue has important implications for the whole county.
His original request for the application to be heard by committee was rejected and he said the issue was being replicated with applications for developments across the county. "We want council officials to attend an open evening meeting with local people so they can explain why the application was handled in the way it was," he said.
"We seem to be going round in circles with no satisfactory answers being given."
Councillor Mellings added: "Given the planning history of this site it was important the application was heard by the committee to enable local people to address their concerns direct to councillors.
"Even the council's own website says that an application will be heard by councillors if it is 'significant or contentious' – if this application isn't contentious then I don't know what is. Irrespective of the final decision local democracy has been betrayed.
"Local residents nearby are already being refused home insurance because of the flood risk – yet the council says there is no issue.
"Someone must have a duty of care and have to take responsibility if residents in newly built houses cannot insure them – it is simply unacceptable."
