MP Mark Pritchard has stepped into a row over plans to build 1,600 homes in Shifnal – potentially increasing its population by 63 per cent.
Mark Pritchard attended an extraordinary meeting of Shifnal Town Council where he said he was on the side of those who feared the town’s infrastructure could not cope with all the new homes planned by 2026.
More than 50 people attended the meeting on Friday at Shifnal Youth club.
It followed Shropshire Council’s decision on Tuesday to approve plans for 115 homes in the centre of the town.
However, Shifnal Town Council said that more questions should have been asked of the developers, particularly about the increase in traffic.
Mr Pritchard said told the meeting: “I am on your side and will work hard and continue to work hard for you.
“While I won’t object to every development I will object to the speed of development and which is, in my view, not sustainable and not proportionate.”
Mr Pritchard said the amount of development being put forward under Shropshire Council’s development blueprint, known as SamDev, was contrary to the Government’s national planning framework.
He said: “This is not what the Government intended, it is a misinterpretation at best and at worst an abuse of the national planning guidelines.
“It is not acceptable that local people are being ignored, they will be here and will be the neighbours of the people moving into these developments.”
Mr Pritchard added: “What I can do is put direct and indirect pressure on the leader of Shropshire Council, Keith Barrow, and also write and educate and alter other regional and national stakeholders with what is going on in Shifnal.
“I can raise these issues in Parliament because that is my role.”
A public consultation in the town showed that 91 per cent of residents were against the level of development.
On Tuesday, plans for 115 homes on the Springhill Industrial Estate in the centre of Shifnal were approved by Shropshire Council’s South Shropshire Planning Committee.
Councillors fear the Redrow Homes development will lead to traffic problems.
Mayor of Shifnal, Councillor Susan Broderick, said: “The council’s view of the decision is that Shropshire Council made their decision on a stand-alone site, rather than taking into account that it is part of a number of developments.”
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/01/13/mp%e2%80%88steps-into-row…