Fears over Wellington housing plan for school land

A controversial scheme to build 85 properties at a Wellington school today came under fire before the proposals have even been lodged.

Councillor Miles Hosken, who covers the Ercall ward on Telford & Wrekin Council, said he was concerned about plans for a new housing development at Ercall Wood School in Golf Links Lane.

He said he had been contacted by anxious residents who had raised fears about road safety, potential sewage problems, and falling house prices in the area.

Telford & Wrekin Council today said it had not yet received a planning application for the development of homes, 15 per cent of which would be affordable.

Members of Wellington Town Council are due to discuss the proposals at their next meeting tomorrow.

Today Councillor Hosken said: "I don't live there, but if I was a resident I would be distraught.

"It's not reasonable, it can go somewhere else. An 85-home development where you have one of the highest rateable areas is downright disrespectful.

"People are quite anxious. My concern is the Ercall Wood and supporting the people who are concerned about values of their property and safety of the people in the area, as well as sewage and the infrastructure.

"There's a golf course which is very highly regarded, noted as a premier golf course and very well used. These problems will manifest there, and there is a concern over that."

He said the proposals could lead to about 100 more cars and he claimed there were "already problems" with traffic in the area.

"The school needs modernising, it needs money spending on it, but not to the detriment of the people living in the area," he said.

"I'm more concerned with people than I am with a building.

"People's concerns are far more important and they never get heard.

"Councillors can say what they want but they don't get over the feelings of the people."

A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman said people would be able to air concerns after plans are submitted.

"No planning application has been received in respect of the site but there will be a formal consultation as part of the planning process when it is received and Councillor Hosken is welcome to respond to that at the appropriate time," he said.