Fresh housing 'threat' to ancient Oswestry hillfort
Campaigners say the landscape around Oswestry's ancient hill fort is being threatened by a further glut of housing proposed for the town.
The Hands off Old Oswestry Hillfort (HOOOH) says planners are mapping out a long-term vision for the town's northern corridor.
A planning application by Galliers Homes is already underway for 120 houses which HOOOH claims is a significant area of the 3,000-year-old hillfort’s south-eastern setting.
The council recently outlined more land for potential long-term housing.
Campaigners say that the fields include some previously ruled out of the local plan during consultation. They are holding a Hug around the Hillfort later this month, the fourth to be staged.
A spokesperson for HOOOH said: "Development within the hillfort’s unspoilt surroundings also flies in the face of a recent landscape assessment commissioned by the local authority itself which categorises the area as highly sensitive to development.
“This is a strong indication that Shropshire planners believe there is scope for further town growth northwards into the hillfort’s setting, using the town boundary change to accommodate Galliers’ scheme as the precedent.
“People have come out in force at previous hugs and we urge them to show their support again as the threat of development to this national jewel closes in from all sides.”
Save our Setting
Taking place on March 24, the 2019 hug is adopting the theme ‘SOS – Save our Setting’. This aims to highlight that the surrounding landscape is as vital as the hillfort itself to its iconic status and significance to national heritage.
“The local community has always been keen to look at other places for housing, such as sites east of the town proposed in Oswestry Civic Society’s 2050 vision.
"This suggests some form of landscape designation, like a country park, to better preserve the hillfort’s setting. HOOOH, Oswestry Town Council and other stakeholders have also long requested that the local authority consider more appropriate protection of its landscape.
Old Oswestry, together with its hinterland, is just one of a handful of Iron Age monuments along the Marches which are unique in both design and setting, says the campaign.
Archaeologist and heritage expert, Dr George Nash, from Wem, said: “This is one of few remaining opportunities left for the public to make a stand and tell the local authority and Historic England what we feel about the devastation of a national icon by these ill-conceived schemes. Now is the time to unite; the clock is ticking on the unspoilt vision of Old Oswestry as we know it.”
People are being asked to meet at the hillfort’s western entrance on March 24 at 1.30pm for a 2pm start. Heritage experts will be giving talks on the hillfort and answering questions. Participants will also form a circle of protection around the hillfort.
