Protesters to turn out in force against Telford homes plan
Protesters against plans for more than 300 homes at a Telford beauty spot are due to turn out in force for the start of a public inquiry into the application next week.
Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee has twice refused permission to build homes on Haygate Fields in Wellington, near to the town's cricket club.
But developer Gladman Developments has appealed against the latest rejection.
A Government planning inspector will spend six days hearing representations for both sides at the Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington before making a ruling on whether the original decision was valid and should stand.
The inquiry is due to start on Monday.
John Butler, of the Save Haygate Fields campaign group, said residents had raised the cash to appoint their own barrister.
He said a delegation was planning to turn out in force to show the inspector the strength of feeling against the application.
"The original planning application was for 330 houses, which was reduced in December to 290 houses," he said.
"The proposed site is to be fed by a single carriageway road joining Haygate Road, almost opposite the entrance into Haygate Drive.
"It is our belief that should this development go ahead, at peak times the additional traffic in this vicinity will cause chaos."
He added: "Telford & Wrekin Council has received over 120 letters objecting to this development – this includes our local MP Mark Pritchard.
"Telford & Wrekin Council hasa five-year housing land supply, which states that we have at least seven-and-a-half years' worth of land already with planning permission to build. So why do we need more land for immediate housing?
"We wish to urge the general public to support our cause and attend this appeal, even if it is just for an hour."
The inquiry is due to hear all the evidence by February 26, with a final decision up to six weeks after that.
