Fears new Co-op store plan will see homes built in Alveley
A proposed supermarket scheme could open up housing developments on green belt land, which campaigners have been fighting against for more than 10 years.
Alveley Greenbelt Protection Group has said the proposed £1 million Co-op on land next to the Squirrel pub could lead to more development in the future.
Developers have said the supermarket development would create a new "community hub" in Alveley, bringing 20 jobs to the village.
Bob Lloyd, chairman of the group, and a former local government officer, said: "Our concern is that such a building could be put on green belt and that this could provide leverage to eventually going further onto the green belt land to put in applications for housing developments.
"It is the potential to turn into other natures such as house building. There might be a future opportunity to build further, they might say 'oh we could put one or two more houses around there'.
"We know that village pubs are very very vulnerable things at the moment and continue to be. The developers will say they need houses for those to live in while working in the convenience store.
"Lots of areas are vulnerable to potential future development, not immediately, but in the long term."
Green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth in the UK, and maintaining areas in which forestry and outdoor leisure can be preserved.
Residents formed the protection group to represent the village when 300 homes were proposed for green belt land in the area in 2003.
Mr Lloyd, who has lived in Alveley for 38 years, said: "We stopped a development of what would have been 300 homes in Alveley, although the possibility still remains.
"That was what concerned the village at the time, and this is really a warning.
"I have already written to the retail people in London. We haven't gone away we are watching over them and we are doing everything necessary to confirm what the position is."
Property developers NewRiver Retail bought the Squirrel pub and surrounding land in December 2013.
It now plans to renovate the pub and build a Co-op store next door.
The developers said the shop would offer fresh produce and create more choice, new jobs and training opportunities.
The plans include 15 car parking spaces for the new store and a cash machine.
