Public meeting over concerns about Bishop's Castle housing plan
An historic town’s streets could struggle to cope with traffic from new homes, it has been warned.
Residents of Bishop’s Castle are expected to attend a meeting at 7pm at the Public Hall on Monday to discuss future housing sites for the town.
Bishop’s Castle Community Partnership has said that a proposal for a housing site in Shropshire Council’s revised Bishop’s Castle Place Plan is unsuitable unless cars are stopped from using the town centre to access it.
The proposed new housing site lies to the north west of the town and is designated for 70 houses, 40 of which are intended as affordable homes.
This is in addition to the site on School Lane that was designated in the last Bishop's Castle Local Plan Review, also with a 70-dwelling capacity.
“Whilst we believe it’s imperative to get more affordable homes, the problem defined by the Bishop’s Castle Town Plan Policy and Map is one of access” said Anne-Marie Jackson, a member of the Bishop’s Castle Community Partnership.
"Virtually all vehicular movements to and from this new site will need to go through the conservation area, including on streets that are inadequate to cope, partly because of their ancient characteristics.
Restrictions
"Welsh Street, the Market Square and Salop Street are just three streets that could be affected by this development unless suitable traffic restrictions can be enforced.”
In their published documents, Shropshire Council recognises the vehicular problems of Bishop’s Castle town centre and states that access to the site will be provided via the Wintles estate road.
But the site is split by Welsh Street which takes vehicles directly to the town centre and beyond, and according to objectors the question remains as to how use of sensitive thoroughfares such as Welsh Street can realistically be prevented and so comply with the Bishop’s Castle Town Plan Policy which was adopted by the town council in October last year.
The public meeting will be an opportunity for residents to establish whether, should the land be zoned for housing, Shropshire Council will have the power to ensure that sensitive streets cannot be accessed from the site.
