Fury at 'lack of consultation' over mammoth 600-home development in Shrewsbury
Residents living close to the site of a proposed 600-property development say their opinions have not been sufficiently sought over the plans.
Taylor Wimpey and Permission Homes have lodged amended plans with Shropshire Council to build the houses on land at Weir Hill, off Preston Street in Shrewsbury.
The matter is expected to be discussed at the next meeting of the council's Central Planning Committee on November 23.
The developers have been locked in a long standing battle with residents who say the development is unsustainable and will put unnecessary strain on the local infrastructure such as schools and GP practices.
They say a lack of access from the site on to Preston Street and increased traffic could lead to accidents and disruption for those already living in the area.
The lack of planned recreation space is another cause for concern whilst amendments to the Belvidere Bridge are 'not adequate'. A narrowed carriageway would cause congestion and pollution for existing residents, and would be dangerous given the bend in the road when approaching from the Shirehall side of the bridge.
A day long consultation session was held at a nearby hotel back in 2015 to which people were invited but since then hundreds of residents have voiced their objections to the scheme on the council's planning portal.
Resident Stuart Spiers said: "I am appalled by the lack of consultation with local residents over the proposed Weir Hill development.
"The number of objections on the council's website make clear the depth of feeling by residents and others.
"I now hear that there is to be a planner's meeting towards the end of this month at which one local spokesperson is invited to speak. The problem is that we've not been formally asked/informed of this.
"We now appear to have two weeks to find a spokesperson it would appear."
Councillor Hannah Fraser, who represents the ward on Shropshire Council said that she felt the residents had not been given enough time to make their views known. "They know that the fields are to be built on," she said. "But these are amended plans and they have been very rushed. The residents are being ignored.
"Residents have not had enough time to digest the amended plans. They have not been informed and it seems there was a random way of contacting people. Some were by letter and some were not. It has not been very consistent."
