Village's hopes for railway station back on track as housing development is voted through
A village's hopes of getting a railway station back for the first time since the 1960s are still alive after councillors gave a housing development the green light.
The 48-home development in Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, was backed unanimously by Shropshire Council's Northern Planning Committee, despite officers saying the plans should be rejected due to it not falling within the Local Plan development boundary.
The developer, Shingler Homes, has promised a patch of land to be designated for a station car park on the site which would be essential for a new station having any realistic chance of being approved in the future.
Baschurch Parish Council chairman, Councillor Andy Woodthorpe, spoke passionately at the meeting, appealing to councillors to vote for "what residents want", and pointing to the 118 comments in support of the plans on the application.
Resident Tracy Lakin offered and alternative argument, saying there are too many houses being built and the railway station would increase car emissions. An officers' report described the railway station plan as "aspirational", and Ms Lakin rubbished claims from previously made by North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan that this was a "now or never" chance to bring a station to the area.
