Dozens of homes to be built on disused Ellesmere railway station yard

Fifty seven houses will be built on Old Station Yard in Ellesmere – despite claims the land was providing a valuable role as an overnight car park for lorry drivers.

But plans for 50 homes between Aston Road and Church Lane in Wem were thrown out by members of Shropshire Council's north planning committee yesterday.

The yard in Ellesmere lies next to the former railway station, which lay on the Oswestry to Whitchurch line. The station closed in 1965 as part of Dr Richard Beeching's swingeing nationwide cuts to the railways. The site was then used as part of the Fullwoods site, but has not been used for industrial purposes for several years.

Representatives of Wychbury Properties (Ellesmere) Ltd, who are behind the plans for the homes, told yesterday's meeting at Shirehall in Shrewsbury that the land had not been used since 2006.

Councillor Geoff Elner, of Ellesmere Town Council, said his authority was "110 per cent against" the application and described it as "over-development"of the site. Fears were also raised about traffic volumes building up in the area. But committee members ruled in favour of the developers.

Councillor Elner said: "I have been writing to the council and members of the committee trying to get our points addressed but had no reply.

"The site is currently being used as a car park and has lorries using it who park overnight. This site is not redundant and we see many industrial vehicles here. This is over-development of the site."

Bob Davies, agent for Wychbury Properties (Ellesmere) Ltd, said: "There is no truth that the site is in use – it has not been used since 2006. It is also not used for overnight transport. This is a classic brownfield site which is wholly sustainable."

Councillor Vince Hunt, Shropshire councillor for Oswestry West, described the site as "a mess" and said something needed to be done about it.

Councillor John Cadwallader, for Market Drayton East, said: "It is a no-brainer. It brings land back into use."

Meanwhile, the proposals for Wem were rejected – despite being provisionally approved earlier this year. Councillor Edward Towers, of Wem Town Council, told the meeting the town's infrastructure could not cope with the development.